PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 1-0 Rennes: Kylian Mbappé sends hosts into Coupe de France final

Rennes had been the only team to interrupt PSG’s dominance in the Coupe de France between 2015 and 2021, and were once again standing in Les Parisiens‘ way as the latter looked to make the final for the first time since that run. The Rouge et Noir, whose league form had once again taken a downturn after a brief resurgence at the turn of the year, were looking to salvage their campaign by joining Lyon in the final in May.

For most of the first half, Steve Mandanda managed to keep Mbappé at bay. The veteran goalkeeper first pushed one of the forward’s efforts onto the crossbar – from a one-on-one set up by Ousmane Dembélé – before parrying the penalty the France captain had won himself. Mbappé would eventualy find a way through minutes later, after latching onto another ball over the top on the counter – this time from Fabián Ruiz. After cutting inside from the left, he would see his shot generously deflected by Omari before nestling into bottom corner, leaving Mandanda helpless.

Julien Stéphan’s men would show more urgency past the hour mark, with Bourigeaud’s crosses causing panic several times in the PSG box, and Arnaud Kalimuendo nodding a close-range chance just over the bar. The striker would have a handful more chances to equalise against his former club, but the hosts would remain relatively untroubled. At the other end, some more Mandanda heroics – once again from Mbappé, and later on from an Asensio effort – kept the Bretons in the running for a spot in the final.

Ultimately, though, Rennes’ stale possession in stoppage time encapsulated an unthreatening evening at the Parc des Princes, days after defeat in Strasbourg. In the midst of a season-defining month, Luis Enrique’s men turned in an assured albeit