Rennes vs PSG: Managerless hosts brace for leaders in Round 22 opener
Rennes welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Roazhon Park on Friday, February 13, 2026, with kickoff set for 1: 00 PM ET. The Round 22 curtain-raiser arrives amid upheaval for the hosts and a surge for the visitors, setting up a tense matchup in Brittany.
Kickoff and what’s at stake
Rennes enter the weekend in sixth place and clinging to a narrow grip on the European positions. A positive result would steady the ship after a rocky stretch and keep the pressure on the sides above them. For the leaders, a victory would widen the gap at the summit heading into the rest of the round and extend a formidable league run.
Form guide: slide vs surge
The home side’s rhythm has faltered, with no win in five across all competitions (one draw, four defeats) and three consecutive league losses in that span. Defensive frailties have been costly, with three or more goals conceded in each of their last three outings in all competitions.
Rennes can still point to a generally resilient record at Roazhon Park this season, collecting 18 points from a possible 30 in the league and losing only once in their last six home matches across competitions — though that solitary defeat came in their most recent home game.
PSG arrive in full flow. The leaders have strung together seven straight Ligue 1 victories, a sequence that began with a 5–0 win in the reverse fixture against these opponents. The latest statement was a 5–0 thrashing in the Clasique last weekend. While their last three league away wins have all been by one-goal margins — two of them secured late — their attack has still produced two or more goals in six of the past seven league matches.
After the change in the dugout
Rennes dismissed head coach Habib Beye earlier in the week after a damaging run. Reserve-team boss Sebastien Tambouret steps in to oversee Friday’s clash, tasked with stabilizing a faltering campaign and re-energizing a European push. The timing is unforgiving: PSG’s visit opens the round and places immediate scrutiny on structure, selection, and spirit.
Rennes’ most recent league outing summed up their frustrations. They led early at Lens through Esteban Lepaul, gained a numerical advantage after the break, yet still left empty-handed in a 3–1 defeat. The response — in organization, transitions, and set-piece focus — will be pivotal under fresh guidance.
Team news and selection notes
The hosts face fresh concerns from the Lens loss, with two defenders stretchered off. Jeremy Jacquet, who is set for a move to England in the summer, suffered a shoulder issue that could require surgery and threaten his season. Another center-back also departed injured, leaving Rennes to monitor options closely across the back line in the short turnaround.
For PSG, the story has been fluency and depth in the final third. With confidence high after last weekend’s rout, the leaders are positioned to rotate intelligently if needed without blunting their threat.
Key matchups and players to watch
Rennes must compress space between the lines and protect their channels. Quick recovery runs from full-backs and disciplined screening in front of a potentially makeshift central defense will be crucial. Set pieces offer a lifeline at the other end, while Lepaul’s direct running can unsettle PSG in transition if the hosts can break cleanly.
PSG’s wide threats shape the game plan. Ousmane Dembele’s form on the flank stretches back lines and tees up runners attacking the box. Bradley Barcola’s timing from the opposite side and Lee Kang-In’s craft between the lines add variety, ensuring the leaders can attack with width or slice through the half-spaces. If PSG impose their tempo and recycle pressure after turnovers, Rennes will spend long spells pinned in.
Outlook and prediction
Rennes at home are rarely a soft touch, and a fresh voice on the touchline can spark a short-term response. But the league leaders carry a sharper cutting edge and recent muscle memory from the reverse fixture. Even if this proves tighter than PSG’s recent scorelines, the visitors’ balance and bench options should tell.
Prediction: PSG 2, Rennes 0.
