Rennes-PSG: Five legendary matches

Ahead of this evening’s Coupe de France semifinal, we look back at five of the biggest matches between Stade Rennais and Paris Saint-Germain.

2012/13 Ligue 1 Matchday 13 Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Stade Rennais

While the capital side would go on to win the league title, the early season hardly was easy going. Just a fortnight after suffering their first loss of the season at home to Saint Étienne, Rennes did the same. Both sides exchanged goals in the match’s first twenty minutes, but when Benoît Costil was sent off moments after Nene had leveled, it hardly augured well for the visitors. A clever free kick from Julien Féret would give the Bretons the lead again, though, and they held on to it despite playing almost the entire second half with nine men after Jean II Makoun was also sent off.

2017/18 Coupe de France Round of 64 Stade Rennais 1-6 Paris Saint-Germain

Kylian Mbappé and Neymar had made all the headlines ahead of this season after the two arrived in the capital for the better part of €400M, and that investment paid off handsomely on the way to a treble. In this match, the two new arrivals and Ángel Di María all netted a brace to power the visitors to a comfortable win, with Mbappé adding a pair of assists for good measure.

2017/18 Coupe de la Ligue Semifinals Stade Rennais 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain

Just three weeks later, the two sides faced off again, this time in the Coupe de la Ligue. Paris opened a handsome early lead through Thomas Menuier, Marquinhos, and Giovani Lo Celso, but Rennes made things nervy with late goals from Diafra Sakho and Sanjin Prcic after Mbappé had been sent off with thirty minutes to play.

2018/19 Coupe de France Final Stade Rennais 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain (6-5 on penalties)

While PSG would capture the league title this season, success in the domestic cups eluded them at the hands of Strasbourg and Rennes. A hard-fought match at the Stade de France saw the holders open with two goals in the first twenty minutes, before Rennes battled back with an own goal by Presnel Kimpembe and the equalizer from Mexer. PSG would finish the match with ten men as Mbappé was sent off, and after each of the first five takers had scored, Christopher Nkunku’s miss handed the title to Julien Stéphan’s side.

2020/21 Ligue 1 Matchday 36 Stade Rennais 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain

The title race in the season was closely-fought one, with it being nip and tuck among PSG, Lyon, AS Monaco and eventual winners Lille. Rennes finished sixth that season, but would play a major role in deciding the title, as this result saw Lille move ahead of the capital side thanks to Serhou Guirassy’s late equalizer as the absence of the suspended Kylian Mbappé proved crucial.