Rennes 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain – PSG move up to third with impressive Ligue 1 victory over hosts

Goals from Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi and Randal Kolo Muani enabled Paris Saint-Germain to ease past Rennes 3-1 and return to winning ways in Ligue 1.

Vitinha opened the scoring in splendid fashion, curling a dipping shot into the top corner from the edge of the box, giving goalkeeper Steve Mandanda no chance.

Hakimi doubled PSG’s lead four minutes later, nodding in a Warren Zaire-Emery cross, and 2-0 was how the first half ended after Mandanda denied Kylian Mbappe from a one-on-one.

Rennes pulled a well-worked goal back through Amine Gouiri, but PSG restored their two-goal advantage within a matter of seconds as substitute Kolo Muani scored with his first touch.

PSG should have won by more goals but were wasteful in the closing stages. Substitute Bradley Barcola missed a great chance to score his first PSG goal, let down by a poor first touch, before Mbappe missed an open goal after brilliantly dribbling away from the tired defence and rounding Mandanda.

The win lifts PSG to third place on 15 points, two behind leaders Monaco. Rennes sit eighth after suffering their first defeat of the season.

However, Goncalo Ramos struggled up front and missed the one big chance he was presented with. Whereas Kolo Muani scored with his first touch, also found the net from a chance brought back for an offside in the build-up, and linked up more impressively with his team-mates, particularly Mbappe and Hakimi.

This PSG team still lacks a clear identity, but on this evidence it is far better with Kolo Muani is in it.

He scored the all-important first goal in style and also impressed with his link-up play, creating numerous chances with incisive through balls.

Rennes: Mandanda 7, Assignon 7, Omari 6, Theate 5, Belocian 5, Bourigeaud 5, Matic 6, Blas 5, Rieder 4, Gouiri 6, Kalimuendo 6. Subs: Doue 5, Truffert 5, Le Fee 5, Yildirim 6, Terrier 5.

PSG: Donnarumma 7, Hakimi 8, Skriniar 6, Marquinhos 7, Hernandez 6, Zaire-Emery 7, Ugarte 6, Vitinha 8, Dembele 6, Ramos 5, Mbappe 7. Subs: Kolo Muani 8, Barcola 4, Ruiz 5, Soler n/a.

SAVE! 12′ – Donnarumma, at full stretch, dives out and gathers Blas’ low cross to deny Kalimuendo a tap-in. Excellent goalkeeping.

GOAL! RENNES 0-1 PSG (VITINHA) 32′ – A PSG attack starts with a Marquinhos backheel on his own byline. Ugarte feeds Dembele as the ball crosses halfway, the winger cuts in from the right and with space to shoot he unselfishly feeds Vitinha. The Portuguese shifts the ball onto his right foot, on the edge of the box, and curls a beautiful shot up over Mandanda and into the top corner.

GOAL! RENNES 0-2 PSG (HAKIMI) 36′ – Zaire-Emery, with seemingly little on, picks out Hakimi with a great cross from deep and the Moroccan heads in.

GOAL! RENNES 1-2 PSG (GOUIRI) 56′ – Assignon cuts out a square ball in PSG’s half, passes to Blas who puts his foot on the ball and then crosses to Gouiri at the back post, who heads past Donnarumma. Rennes hit back with a well-worked goal.

GOAL! RENNES 1-3 PSG (KOLO MUANI) 58′ – Hakimi gets away from Gouiri and crosses for Kolo Muani to glance into the roof of the net at the near post. A glorious finish with his first touch after coming on.

OFF THE POST! 86′ – Rennes have a free kick which Yildirim gets on the end of, but sees his looping header come back off the post.

TERRIBLE MISS! 86′ – PSG go straight up the other end and Mbappe runs past Assignon, rounds the goalkeeper, then chips over with the goal unguarded!

• PSG have ended a run of five games without a win at Roazhon Park.
• Marquinhos made his 416th appearance for PSG, tying Marco Verratti for second on the club’s all-time list.
• Hakimi has scored four goals already this season in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, from right-back.
• Nice are now the only undefeated team in Ligue 1 this season.