Stade Rennais FC 1 - 4 Paris Saint Germain: Neymar double helps PSG restore advantage at Ligue 1 summit

Posted Sunday, December 17, 2017 by PA

Neymar scored twice as 10-man Paris St Germain asserted their dominance over reigning Ligue 1 champions Monaco with a 4-2 victory at Rennes.

The Brazilian striker, who became the most expensive player ever when he swapped Barcelona for PSG in a 222 million euro deal this August, opened and closed the scoring at Roazhon Park.

His first goal, poked home from a Kylian Mbappe pass early on, brought him to 10 league goals for the season and in the 17th minute he set up the Frenchman for PSG's second.

Giovani Lo Celso and Edinson Cavani both came closer to propelling the capital club further clear before the break but Rennes goalkeeper Tomas Koubek contained the threat.

The hosts reignited the contest when Firmin Mubele halved the deficit with a 53rd-minute goal when Morgan Amalfitano found him in good space to notch.

But PSG turned the screw in the last 15 minutes, Cavani making it 3-1 with a sumptuous chip from distance before Mbappe once again found Neymar for a classy finish beyond Koubek.

Rennes thought they had a lifeline when Presnel Kimpembe conceded a penalty and saw red for his troubles at the death, but Sunderland loanee Wahbi Khazri blasted his spot-kick over the bar.

Monaco had closed the gap on the leaders to six points with their Friday thrashing of St Etienne but the Parisians are now nine points ahead once more.