Rennes Haunt Dembele On PSG Visit As Lens Spot Opening At Top

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 07:58 IST

Second-placed Lens now have the opportunity to overtake the champions and reclaim the top spot if they defeat Paris FC in the capital, following PSG's 3-1 defeat.

Rennes, just four days after dismissing coach Habib Beye, shocked Paris Saint-Germain with a 3-1 victory on Friday, ending the defending champions’ seven-match winning streak in Ligue 1.

Second-placed Lens now have the opportunity to overtake the champions and reclaim the top spot on Saturday if they defeat Paris FC in the capital.

PSG began energetically, with Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue creating several chances, but to no avail.

Following Beye’s departure on Monday, Rennes promoted his assistant Sebastien Tambouret, and the team that had recently lost four consecutive games appeared rejuvenated.

Jordanian forward Mousa Al-Tamari scored the opening goal with a powerful strike into the bottom corner in the 34th minute.

Esteban Lepaul added a second from a corner in the 69th minute, but Dembele pulled one back for PSG two minutes later when he converted a deflected cross.

PSG manager Luis Enrique substituted Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Bradley Barcola and Lee Kang-in, possibly with the upcoming Champions League play-off round first leg against Monaco in mind.

Substitute Rennes striker Breel Embolo sealed the victory with a decisive third goal nine minutes from time, propelling Rennes to fifth in the table.

Despite scoring his seventh goal in ten matches, Dembele called for unity within the team.

“We need to win these types of matches. We need to play as a team, not as individuals," said the current Ballon d’Or winner Dembele.

“We need to show more desire. We have to play for Paris Saint-Germain to win matches, because if we play individually, it won’t go well, and we won’t achieve the titles we want."

Dembele, who first rose to prominence at Rennes a decade ago, praised his former club’s performance.

“Rennes had a very good match," he said.

Luis Enrique chose Matvei Safonov over Lucas Chevalier in goal, and the Russian keeper was unsighted for Al-Tamari’s opener.

However, central defender Willian Pacho failed to challenge effectively, while his partner Illia Zabarnyi was sluggish on the two other goals.

In Friday’s late match, PSG’s Champions League knockout round opponents Monaco defeated Nantes 3-1.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

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