Cavani at the double as PSG ease past Rennes

Posted Monday, January 28, 2019 by PA

Edinson Cavani scored twice as Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint Germain swept aside Rennes 4-1 at the Parc des Princes.

Despite having to do without injured Neymar – likely to miss the upcoming Champions League visit of Manchester United because of a foot problem – Thomas Tuchel’s side showed no let up as they moved 13 points clear at the top of the table.

It took PSG, who hold two games in hand on second-placed Lille, just seven minutes to break the deadlock.

Angel Di Maria latched onto a pass down the left and clipped the ball back into the six-yard box for Cavani to head the home side into the lead.

Kylian Mbappe went close to adding a second when his goalbound effort was blocked by Rennes defender Jeremy Gelin after rounding the keeper before Draxler fired over.

The visitors were level on 28 minutes with a well-crafted goal.

Full-back Hamari Traore got clear down the right and sent a low cross into the PSG penalty area, where M’Baye Niang flicked the ball with a backheel past Gianluigi Buffon.

Niang was then somewhat fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for a late tackle on Thilo Kehrer, a decision upheld on review by the Video Assistant Referee.

PSG pressed again early in the second half, as left-back Juan Bernat fired over following good work by Cavani and Di Maria.

Rennes keeper Tomas Koubek saved well from first Draxler and then Mbappe as the runaway Ligue 1 leaders upped the tempo.

PSG regained the lead on the hour, when Di Maria latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Thiago Silva to chip over the diving goalkeeper.

Before Rennes could regroup, they were further behind after 66 minutes.

Draxler latched onto a stray pass upfield from Clement Grenier and swiftly played in Mbappe, who made no mistake with a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Mbappe turned creator for Cavani on 71 minutes, again taking a pass from Draxler on into the penalty area before squaring to the Uruguayan forward to slot home PSG’s fourth.

Koubek saved from Di Maria as PSG went in search of more late goals, but had already done enough for another impressive Ligue 1 victory.