Kylian Mbappé gets back into the swing of things and PSG joins Lyon in the final of the Coupe de France. The Parisians dominated Rennes, Wednesday at the Parc des Princes, by the smallest of margins (1-0) thanks to a goal from their star striker (40th). Dominant, Luis Enrique’s players regularly came up against a great Steve Mandanda who notably repelled a penalty from Mbappé. They will try to lift the trophy for the 15th time on May 25.
After his recent failed match and his remarkable exit during the Parisian success against OM in the championship (0-2), Mbappé was a strong starter in a very fluctuating three-way attack with Ousmane Dembélé and Kang-In Lee. PSG immediately put a lot of pressure on Rennais positioned as a block in front of their area. The visitors were combative in closing the spaces well but left too much behind them as soon as they wanted to move forward. Steve Mandanda saved his team by diverting, on his crossbar, the shot of Mbappé, who had counterattacked from afar (12th).
Mbappé in all the good moves
If Arnaud Kalimuendo called upon Gianluigi Donnarumma immediately (13th), the control and incessant movements of the Parisians left the Bretons no respite. As elusive as he was clumsy at the finish, Dembélé shot above the target (26th). Mbappé obtained a penalty for a foul by Warmed Omari but again came up against the leaping Mandanda (37th). The striker, however, cracked the goalkeeper with a shot deflected by Omari after a long counter (1-0, 40th).
At half-time, Mbappé’s 8th goal in the competition this season rewarded the locals’ 76% possession of the ball. Despite the Rennais’ desire to react, symbolized by a strike from Amine Gouiri just off the target (50th), Paris remained in control of the ball and Mbappé once again called upon the fiery Mandanda (53rd). The former last bastion of OM once again put up resistance and prevented his rival of the evening from sending the ball into his left corner (58th).
Mandanda maintained the suspense
Breton coach Julien Stéphan had just launched Martin Terrier and Alidu Seidu (56th) who ended up bringing new aggression to long-timid visitors like Benjamin Bourigeaud or Amine Gouiri. Kalimuendo (67th) was only able to place his little head above Donnarumma’s cage, ultimately not worried.
It was rather Mandanda who had to work against the Parisian entrant Marco Asensio (79th). Recently beaten in Strasbourg in the championship (2-0), Rennes once again remained silent in attack and failed at the foot of the last step. PSG, for their part, has a 26th match without defeat in all competitions, qualifies for its 20th Coupe de France final and can reasonably aim for a Cup-Championship double. While secretly dreaming of a bigger trophy.