Ligue 1: Defending champion PSG stunned by Rennes, Dembele laments 1-3 loss

Ligue 1 leaders Paris St. Germain (PSG) suffered their third defeat of the season as they lost 1-3 to a Rennes side who overcame the sacking of coach Habib Beye this week to end a four-match losing streak at Roazhon Park on Friday.

PSG remained at 51 points from 22 games and could be overtaken by Lens, who travel to Paris FC. Rennes moved up to fifth place with 34 points, five points behind fourth-place Marseille.

Mousa Tamari and Esteban Lepaul gave Rennes a 2-0 lead before Ousmane Dembele pulled ahead for PSG, who pushed for an equalizer but were caught out when Breel Embolo added a third.

The victory came at the end of a turbulent week for Rennes, who sacked Beye on Monday, leaving reserve team coach Sebastien Tambouret temporarily in charge.

“We started the match poorly, but Rennes played a very good match,” Dembélé said League 1+before suggesting his teammates had let themselves down ysdj6.

«We have to show more desire. We have to play for Paris Saint-Germain to win games, because if we only play on the pitch it’s not going to work, we’re not going to win the titles we want.»

«Last season we put the club first before thinking about ourselves. We have to (re)discover that, especially in these games.»

After Lepaul hit the post early on for Rennes, they took the lead in the 34th minute of the break, with Tamari twisting and turning defender Willian Pacho before unleashing a curling shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Rennes were awarded second place after 69 minutes when Lepaul’s header from Sebastian Szymanski’s corner ended up in the net.

PSG hit back three minutes later when former Rennes striker Dembele guided his header past goalkeeper Brice Samba.

PSG then piled on the pressure and Samba made a fine low stop from substitute Goncalo Ramos before the hosts got a third in the 81st minute, with Embolo curling in Ludovic Blas’ cross.

Published on February 14, 2026