Paris Saint-Germain will aim to make it eight wins out of eight in the 2021-22 Ligue 1 season when they travel to Roazhon Park to take on Rennes on matchday 19.
Currently, Paris Saint-Germain ranks first, while Rennes holds the fourth position in the Ligue 1 standings. PSG have scored 48 goals this season and have conceded merely 13 goals. Rennes finished last season in fourth place in Ligue 1 with a total of 66 points. They have 34 points on the board and have scored a total of 35 goals this season in Ligue 1. They have conceded 20 goals this season. A three-one success for Franck Haise’s charges ended PSG’s unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season after 17 games, and Rennes will look to inflict similar damage. Rennes are in the mix to mingle with the best European football has to offer next season and will look to grab a win to stay intact.
Below are some of the stats for both teams from the current season.
Overall performances
The above viz shows the percentile rank of Rennes compared to other teams in Ligue 1. They are ranked in the top 85.7 percentile for high press and the top 90.4 percentile for goals per 90. This is an indicator of their aggressive intent and willingness to strike this season. They deploy high-intensity pressing and are therefore ranked in the top 81 percentile for passes per defensive action. They are ranked in the top 90 percentile for goals per 90 minutes and score an average of 2.0 goals per game.
The above viz shows the percentile rank of the team in comparison to other teams in Ligue 1. It can be observed that PSG are the top-ranked team in the division. They have outstanding numbers in all departments. The two areas where they are ranked lowest in the league are recoveries and crosses per 90, which are at 73.94 and 9.82, respectively.
Expected goals
Rennes averages 14 shots per match with 50% accuracy. They have an xG of 1.76 per 90. Additionally, Rennes have an xG per shot of 0.14 in the league. They score 2.0 goals per match, which is the fifth-highest in the league.
Paris Saint-Germain takes 15.29 shots per 90 with an accuracy rate of 48.9%. The team scores 2.70 goals per 90 minutes and has an xG of 2.3 per match. It is their first meeting this season, and Rennes have the advantage of playing at home this season. Based on their form in attack, they are expected to have the potential to upset the French champions.
Ball penetration
Rennes have made a total of 245 penetrating carries so far this season. They use the flanks extremely well in order to make moving into the box easier. The team averages 57.82 passes into the final third with 79% accuracy. Additionally, they make 77.24 progressive passes per 90 minutes. Rennes make 20 entries into the opposition’s penalty area per 90 minutes, which is the third-highest total in the league after the likes of PSG and Lille. They do not use as much of the central attacking zone as compared to their opponents. Rennes makes only 19 attacks per 90 minutes through central zones.
PSG makes a total of 24 entries into the opposition’s penalty area per 90 minutes, which is the most in the league. The above viz represents the penetrating carries made by the team in the current season. It can be seen that PSG uses much of the entire pitch in order to attack and create a threat for the opponents. The team has made a total of 260 penetrations so far this season and uses much of the central attacking area. PSG make a total of 29 attacks through the central zone per match.
High pressure and defensive success
Rennes are second in Ligue 1 when it comes to recoveries in the opposition half and average 13.0 recoveries in the opposition half per 90. Additionally, Rennes are averaging 83.67 recoveries this season. Rennes ranks low in Ligue 1 in defensive duels won per 90 minutes, winning only 53% of them. The team commits 12.88 fouls on average and takes part in 63.82 defensive duels per 90. Rennes makes 42.76 interceptions on average. Rennes have the right mindset in defence and do look fit enough to stop a threatening PSG attack.
PSG make fewer recoveries per 90 minutes as compared to Rennes, averaging 11.0 recoveries in the opposition half per match. The team averaged 73.28 recoveries per match in Ligue 1 in 2022/23. PSG wins 52% of defensive duels contested and makes 33.29 interceptions per 90 minutes. The club from Paris has a goals-conceded ratio of 0.71, and their opponents have faced a high of 2.71 per match. PSG’s defence has been cracked down on by many teams in the past. Most recently, Lens were able to accomplish the feat, and Rennes can do the same with the right tactics.
Player to watch out for
Kylian Mbappe will be looking to add more goals to his ever-increasing tally. This season, he has scored 11 goals from 66 shots and has an xG of 0.12 per shot. He has scored a variety of goals, and most of them have come from inside the box or near the six-yard area. He will be one of many whom the Rennes backline will be terrified of and will be looking to contain at any cost. His ability to stun any defence in a snapshot has been highlighted on many occasions now, and Rennes will need to be extremely aware.
Team news
Rennes suffered a significant blow in their victory against Nice, with talismanic striker Martin Terrier now ruled out for the rest of the campaign after sustaining a cruciate ligament rupture to his right patella after 36 minutes. With the Red and Blacks’ top scorer out for the foreseeable future, manager Bruno Genesio will rely on Arnaud Kalimuendo and Amine Gouiri to fire the visitors to victory in the final third until a potential replacement can be found in this month’s transfer window.
Galtier unsurprisingly fielded a youthful-looking team for the Coupe de France and will revert to his strongest lineup here, with Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe set to reunite in their famed attacking trifecta.
Overall, PSG picked up a two-nil victory in its last game over Angers at home, whereas Stade Rennes was handed a two-one road defeat to Clermont. PSG will be looking to build on their clean sheets, and Rennes too will look to pick up all three points. Rennes will be looking to celebrate after the 90 after an intense battle between the two.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
