February 25, (THEWILL) – A controversial stoppage-time penalty from Gonçalo Ramos earned Paris Saint-Germain a point against Rennes in dramatic circumstances on Sunday, ending the visitors’ remarkable six-match winning run in Ligue 1.
Currently leading the French top-flight by 11 points, it seems only a matter of time until PSG win a record 12th title. They started brightly seeking an early goal and but for a fingertip save from Steve Mandanda denying Vitinha, they would have scored.
On the other side of the tie, Rennes reached the half-hour mark without a shot on target. That changed when Amine Gouiri dribbled into the area and bent the ball into the corner with the outside of his right foot past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 33rd minute.
Confident after his wonder goal, Gouiri tried again soon after, driving forward before firing just wide of the target. There was audible frustration at half-time at the Parc des Princes, the first time this season PSG have trailed at the break in Ligue 1.
The hosts’ response after the break was muted, with little quality in attack. It took until the hour mark to force a chance, Mandanda again proving his worth saving from Ousmane Dembélé. That was the prod Rennes needed that the game was far from over as they probed for a second goal, Benjamin Bourigeaud flashing an effort wide.
That left the door open for PSG, who came close when Danilo Pereira’s header flew inches over. Desperate, Ramos dived in the area late on but VAR confirmed no contact. Yet, he did win a controversial penalty in added time after contact from Mandanda, which he scored despite most feeling PSG did little to deserve it.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
