Paris Saint-Germain secured a win over Rennes in the most dramatic style possible on Friday night.
The French giants looked laboured, fatigued and bereft of ideas for the umpteenth time in Ligue 1 this season, but still managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat by scoring in stoppage time.
It really is remarkable when you consider just how much Mauricio Pochettino’s front line was struggling throughout the 90 minutes despite casually boasting Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
PSG vs Rennes
It looked for the longest time that PSG would be held to a goalless draw with the Parisians showing nowhere near the sort of potency and lethality that you’d expect from such a talented attacking force.
That being said, the star-studded duo combined when it mattered most as Mbappe, who had been denied a goal by the offside flag earlier in the game, scored from Messi’s assist to pull victory out of the fire.
PSG launched a counterattack in injury time when the ball eventually landed to Messi, and you could certainly rely upon the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to provide a creative spark.
Mbappe scores dramatic late winner
The Barcelona legend might have struggled for goals in France’s top-flight this season, but he certainly hasn’t underperformed in the assists department as he added his eighth against Rennes.
Messi showed the effortless composure that we’ve come to expect from him by slipping the ball to Mbappe, who provided the finishing touch with a Thierry Henry-like finish to save the day for PSG.
Marry that to the latest in a long list of badass celebrations from Mbappe as he nonchalantly leaned up against the corner flag and PSG’s act of escapology is well worth checking out:
Kylian Mbappé to the rescue! 😅
Just as it looked like PSG were heading to a goalless draw with Rennes, up pops their French superstar! 🤩
Lionel Messi with the assist 👌 pic.twitter.com/Kq77EO2LcD
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 11, 2022
GOOOOAL Mbappe. 🐐 assist😍
pic.twitter.com/PzvMR8YpjX
— g (@PLWeek23) February 11, 2022
Ah, you can’t beat a late winner, can you?
A much-needed confidence boost
It might not be a life-changingly good finish and Doğan Alemdar probably could have saved it, but you can’t downplay the importance of Mbappe coming up clutch in the grand scheme of PSG’s 2021/22 campaign.
Not only did Rennes come into the game as the only team to have beaten PSG in the league this season, but the Parc des Princes side’s next match just so happens to be against Real Madrid.
It’s a crunch Champions League game that could well decide whether or not PSG end their wait for European glory and that’s before we even mention the inevitable narrative swirling around Mbappe.
Soccer Football – Ligue 1 – Paris St Germain v Stade Rennes – Parc des Princes, Paris, France – February 11, 2022 Paris St Germain’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
As such, the added injection of confidence that came with snatching three points when they looked unsalvageable might just be the kick up the backside for PSG to perform when it matters most.
At least, it needs to be, because Pochettino’s men will be found out if they play anywhere as poorly as they did against Rennes when it’s Real Madrid staring at them from the other side of the pitch.
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