PSG will hope to make another statement against Rennes after dismantling Marseille last time around.
Roazhon Park hosts a meeting shaped by instability on one side and momentum on the other, as Rennes attempt to arrest a worrying downturn against a PSG side brimming with confidence at the top of Ligue 1.
Rennes come into round 22 in a state of transition. The decision to part ways with Habib Beye followed a sequence of underwhelming results that left the club’s European ambitions wobbling. A run of five matches without a win across all competitions, including three successive defeats in the league, proved decisive.
The final blow arrived at Lens last weekend despite taking an early lead through Esteban Lepaul and enjoying a numerical advantage for much of the second half, Rennes collapsed to a 3-1 defeat, a result that crystallised the sense of drift.
With Franck Haise strongly linked but not yet confirmed, Sebastien Tambouret is expected to assume caretaker responsibilities. His immediate challenge is twofold: restore defensive discipline and re-energise a squad reportedly unsettled in recent weeks. Rennes remain sixth in the standings, but the margins are tightening.
They are only two points behind fifth-placed Lille yet just one clear of RC Strasbourg in seventh, making this fixture pivotal in determining whether they remain firmly in the continental conversation. There are glimmers of encouragement.
Rennes have lost only once in their last six home matches across all competitions, collecting 18 points from a possible 30 at Roazhon Park in the league this season. However, that recent home defeat, combined with a defensive record that has seen them concede at least three goals in each of their last three outings, tempers optimism ahead of PSG’s visit.
Paris Saint-Germain, by contrast, arrive in ruthless form. Luis Enrique’s side have won seven consecutive Ligue 1 matches, a sequence that includes a comprehensive 5-0 dismantling of Rennes in the reverse fixture. That result marked their fourth straight win in this head-to-head, underlining a widening gulf between the clubs in recent meetings.
Sunday’s 5-0 triumph over Marseille in Le Classique reinforced PSG’s attacking authority. Ousmane Dembele’s first-half brace set the tone, before a Facundo Medina own goal and strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Lee Kang-in completed the rout. The result propelled PSG back to the summit after Lens briefly moved top, and a win in Brittany would allow them to stretch the lead to five points, at least temporarily.
Their away form adds another layer of confidence. PSG have secured three successive league victories on the road, though each came by a single-goal margin, two settled late on, a reminder that dominance on paper does not always translate into early comfort. Nonetheless, they have scored two or more goals in six of their last seven league matches, and with Rennes currently fragile at the back, opportunities are likely to emerge.
This contest pits a side searching for stability against one operating with cohesion and clarity. Rennes may respond with renewed intensity under interim leadership, but PSG’s depth, cutting edge, and recent dominance in this fixture make them strong favourites. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the clubs could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Stade Rennes
Rennes head into Friday’s fixture dealing with significant injury setbacks, particularly in defence. The defeat at Lens proved costly beyond the scoreline. Jeremy Jacquet, who is set to join Liverpool, was stretchered off with a serious shoulder injury and may require surgery, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
Fellow centre-back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal also suffered a thigh injury in the same match and is expected to miss several weeks, further depleting options at the back. Elsewhere, Przemyslaw Frankowski and Djaoui Cisse remain sidelined and are set to miss a third consecutive match. Glen Kamara is a doubt and could be unavailable for a second straight fixture, while winter arrival Yassir Zabiri has yet to feature due to ongoing fitness issues. There are no suspension concerns reported, but squad depth is clearly stretched.
One notable subplot surrounds first-choice goalkeeper Brice Samba, who was omitted from last weekend’s trip following a reported disagreement with former head coach Habib Beye. With managerial changes now in place, it remains uncertain whether Samba will be reinstated or whether Rennes will continue with an alternative between the posts.
Tactically, Rennes are expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation, a shape designed to reinforce defensive stability while maintaining width through wing-backs. If recalled, Brice Samba should start in goal. The back three is likely to consist of Alidu Seidu on the right side of defence, Anthony Rouault centrally, and Lilian Brassier on the left, forming a compact defensive block.
Across midfield, Arnaud Nordin is expected to operate as the right wing-back, with Mahdi Camara providing balance and defensive work centrally alongside Valentin Rongier. Quentin Merlin should take up the left wing-back role, offering attacking support down the flank, while Musa Al-Taamari may function slightly higher in a more advanced wide midfield position depending on how fluid the shape becomes in possession.
Up front, Rennes are likely to pair Esteban Lepaul with Breel Embolo, combining Lepaul’s movement and pressing with Embolo’s physical presence and hold-up play.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Samba; Seidu, Rouault, Brassier; Nordin, Camara, Rongier, Merlin, Al-Taamari; Lepaul, Embolo
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain travel to Brittany with only a couple of injury concerns. Midfielder Fabian Ruiz remains sidelined due to a knee injury that has kept him out for the last four matches, while winger Quentin Ndjantou continues to recover from a hamstring problem sustained in December.
There are no new suspension issues for Luis Enrique to manage. In positive news, Achraf Hakimi is available again after completing a one-match ban, a return that restores balance on the right flank and allows tactical flexibility across midfield. Hakimi’s availability is particularly significant, as it likely enables Warren Zaïre-Emery to move back into central midfield rather than covering at right-back.
PSG’s attacking confidence is high after last weekend’s emphatic victory, with Ousmane Dembélé taking his Ligue 1 tally to seven goals, level with Bradley Barcola, and both attackers expected to spearhead another aggressive performance.
Tactically, PSG are expected to line up in Luis Enrique’s preferred 4-3-3 formation, emphasising fluid movement and positional rotation in advanced areas. Matvey Safonov is likely to start in goal. The back four should consist of Achraf Hakimi at right-back, Marquinhos partnering Willian Pacho in central defence, and Nuno Mendes at left-back, providing attacking thrust from wide positions.
In midfield, Warren Zaire-Emery is expected to operate on the right side of the three, combining defensive energy with forward bursts. Vitinha should take on the central playmaking role, dictating tempo and linking phases of play, while Joao Neves is likely to complete the trio, offering balance, ball recovery, and progression through midfield.
Up front, PSG’s front three is set to feature Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the left wing, Ousmane Dembele centrally or drifting across the frontline, and Bradley Barcola from the right. The trio’s pace, movement, and creativity form the foundation of PSG’s attacking identity, and against a Rennes defence weakened by injuries, Enrique will expect his side to dominate territory and create sustained pressure in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola
Key Stats
- PSG have won seven consecutive Ligue 1 matches, scoring at least two goals in six of those seven games.
- PSG thrashed Rennes 5-0 in the reverse fixture, marking their fourth straight victory in this head-to-head.
- Rennes have conceded at least three goals in each of their last three matches across all competitions.
- PSG have won their last three away league matches, although each was decided by a one-goal margin, two secured with late strikes.
- Rennes are unbeaten in five of their last six home matches in all competitions, collecting 18 points from a possible 30 at Roazhon Park in Ligue 1 this season.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia heads into this fixture as one of PSG’s most unpredictable and decisive weapons. The Georgian winger thrives in transitional chaos and structured possession alike, making him especially dangerous against a Rennes defence that has recently struggled for stability.
Operating primarily from the left side of Luis Enrique’s front three, Kvaratskhelia’s greatest strength lies in his ability to isolate full-backs and dictate 1v1 duels. He combines close control with explosive acceleration, often forcing defenders into retreat before cutting inside to shoot or slipping a reverse pass into the penalty area. Against a Rennes back line weakened by injuries, that directness could prove pivotal.
Beyond flair, there is increasing maturity to his game. Kvaratskhelia now varies his movement intelligently, drifting centrally when Hakimi overlaps on the opposite flank, or stretching play wide when PSG seek to open compact blocks. His understanding with Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola has grown steadily, forming a fluid attacking trio capable of interchanging seamlessly.
If PSG are to extend their winning run and assert further control at the top of Ligue 1, expect Kvaratskhelia to be central to the narrative, either by producing a moment of individual brilliance or by destabilising Rennes’ defensive structure long enough for others to capitalise.
Prediction
Stade Rennes 1-3 Paris Saint-Germain
Rennes may find a short-term surge of intensity under caretaker leadership, particularly at Roazhon Park, where they have generally been competitive this season. However, defensive fragility and off-field turbulence make this an extremely difficult moment to face a PSG side in full stride.
Paris Saint-Germain are operating with clarity, cohesion, and cutting edge in the final third. Their attacking trio, supported by a balanced midfield and the return of Achraf Hakimi, gives them multiple avenues to control and break the game open. Even if Rennes show early resistance, PSG’s quality over 90 minutes should prevail.
