To the point of death.

Unable to contain a team yet deprived of its two best attackers, Martin Terrier, long-term injured, and Benjamin Bourigeaud, suspended, the PSG increases the concern born of its outings since the resumption of the championship after the break linked to the Coupe du world.

"I'm not worried, we don't like to lose, but we will work," promises Portuguese midfielder Vitinha.

Here is Lens (2nd), winner of PSG on January 1 (3-1), back to three lengths behind the leader, and Marseille (3rd) to five.

A month before the reunion with Bayern Munich in the round of 16 of the Champions League (go on February 14, return on March 8), the Parisian collective paled in comparison to the well-oiled one from Rennes.

The captain - at the end of the contract - Hamari Traoré blew up Roazhon Park by opening the scoring (65th) after an excellent job by Adrien Truffert, untenable the whole match.

The Bretons (5th) signed their ninth victory in a row at home, and beat PSG three times during their last four visits to the stadium on the banks of the Vilaine.

MNM without spark

But more than statistics, PSG must be concerned about its level of play. It cannot always count on a flash of genius to overturn a match that started badly.

The post-World Cup reunion of the MNM Kylian Mbappé / Neymar / Lionel Messi - reconstituted after the entry into play of the French international (55th) - did not sparkle.

For his second match in L1 as world champion, the "Pulga" did not weigh, he who had scored against Angers (2-0) on Wednesday.

Parisian striker Neymar in the fight with Croatian Lovro Majer, did not weigh against Rennes at Roazhon Park, January 15, 2023 © LOIC VENANCE / AFP

Neymar presented his bad sides, loss of balls, like the one that led to a dangerous free kick from Lovro Majer, and sulky and challenging attitudes.

On the bench for his return after his staggered vacation after the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé, who entered to the warm applause of Roazhon Park in place of a transparent Hugo Ekitike, did not work a miracle unlike the match against Strasbourg, where he had snatched victory (2-1) at the last second.

For his 200th match in L1, the 2022 vice-world champion even ate a golden opportunity in front of Steve Mandanda (69th).

But behind the three stars, no one assured, apart from the "Titi" Warren Zaire-Emery and Gianluigi Donnarumma.

From the height of his 16 years, the midfielder won duels and ensured recovery of the ball full of temperament.

The Italian goalkeeper, he stopped everything except the goal, where he is alone against the Malian captain of Rennes.

Three-way defense renewed

"Gigio" released the beautiful volley from Arnaud Kalimuendo on a tense cross from Truffert (22nd), two free kicks from Majer (33rd, 56th) and a powerful strike from Amine Gouiri (39th).

Renewed by Christophe Galtier, the three-man defense, reviewed against Angers (2-0) on Wednesday, suffered against Rennes.

On goal, Achraf Hakimi, who had just come into play in place of Nordi Mukiele, was easily obliterated by Truffert's feint.

Marquinhos, who prefers to play in a two-man game, also struggled.

The captain, like some of his partners, again experienced an unusual technical waste.

Galtier had underlined these inaccuracies in the passes, taking source according to him in a disparate level of preparation after the 45 days of interruption.

PSG defender Sergio Ramos in a duel with Rennais Amine Gouiri at Roazhon Park, January 15, 2023 © Jean-Francois MONIER / AFP

But the situation has not improved in this regard.

In the first period, Paris was only dangerous on a strike countered by Joe Rodon (41st) and a raid by Lionel Messi, again stopped by the Welsh defender when striking (43rd).

The first real Parisian opportunity came from the central defenders, a handover from Sergio Ramos for a header from Danilo Pereira blocked by Steve Mandanda (48th).

Hugo Ekitike, yet three times scorer in the previous four matches, failed to stand out to be served.

He repeatedly made poor call choices and touched very little ball.

It symbolizes the bankruptcy of a champion of France who must pull himself together.

© 2023 AFP