Following his team’s second consecutive away loss in the French league on Sunday, PSG coach Christophe Galtier said he will employ video analysis to better grasp the issues facing the Ligue 1 leaders.
FT: Stade Rennais 1-0 PSG.
PSG face their second defeat after the World Cup break. pic.twitter.com/WJiSGQLKpA
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) January 15, 2023
PSG started the game with Lionel Messi and Neymar in attack before adding Kylian Mbappe early in the second half – the first time the trio had played together since the Qatar World Cup – but they still only managed one shot on target throughout the entire game in the pouring rain.
A 65th-minute goal by Rennes defender Hamari Traoré condemned PSG to a second defeat in three matches and cut the French champions’ lead over second-place Lens to three points. Rennes remain fifth.
“The images will speak for themselves,” Galtier said of his plans to use video analysis, “after that there will be choices to make.”
It was expected that Galtier would field his attacking triumvirate of World Cup winner Messi alongside Neymar and Mbappe but the PSG boss sprung a surprise by selecting 20-year-old Hugo Ekitike to spearhead the attack ahead of Mbappe.
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Ekitike, much like his more illustrious teammates Messi and Neymar, was largely anonymous before being replaced in the second half by Mbappe.
Messi sent Mbappe clean through moments after Rennes took the lead but the Frenchman fired over international teammate Steve Mandanda’s goal.
“We knew we were in for a difficult game and so it proved,” Galtier said. “Rennes was far too comfortable in defence.”
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