PSG loses at home in French league for 1st time this season

Arnaud Kalimuendo scored against his boyhood club as leader Paris SaintGermain was beaten 20 by Rennes in its first home loss in the French league this seasonThe win ended PSGs 35match unbeaten run in the league at the Parc des PrincesMarseille later won 21 to end Reims 19match unbeaten run and cut PSGs lead to seven points with 10 matches leftThe 21yearold Kalimuendo joined PSGs youth system when he was 9 years old and signed with Rennes last summer looking for more playing time away from the armada of PSG stars Kalimuendo was under contract with PSG until 2024 but spent the last two seasons on loan at LensRennes which had already prevailed in the corresponding fixture in Brittany two months ago made the most of PSGs passivity and relied on goalkeeper Steve Mandandas decisive saves to produce a clean sheet Karl Toko Ekambi scored Rennes first goalPSG looked slow and lethargic relying in vain on the skills of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel MessiMbappe had two good chances to break the deadlock in the first half but the France star was denied twiceMandanda stopped Mbappes chipped effort in the 26th minute The former France keeper then blocked Mbappes shot from Messis deep pass with a superb reflex save in the 40thRennes waited patiently and took its chance at the stroke of halftime when Benjamin Bourigeaud picked out Toko Ekambi behind the defense The Cameroon forward controlled the ball with a delicate touch and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with an angled shotPSG players were whistled off the field by some fans and things got worse when they returned from the locker roomKalimuendo made it 20 in the 48th after PSG clumsily gave the ball away in midfield He did not celebrate his goalPSG pressed harder as it tried to pull one back but made too many technical mistakes and was vulnerable to counterattacks with Rennes having the best chances after the intervalAlso readKylian Mbappe scores winner as PSG bounce back from UCL exitMandanda was decisive again 10 minutes from time to firmly parry away Marco Verrattis shot that looked bound for the goalPSG is out of the Champions League and the French Cup meaning it has just the league title left to focus on Chasing a European spot Rennes moved up to fifth place in the standingsMARSEILLE IN THE HUNTSecondplace Marseilles hardfought victory in the Champagne town marked its eighth straight away winMarseille forward Alexis Sanchez scored twice against Reims including a superb curled free kick after Folarin Balogun put the hosts in the driving seatReims pushed hard for an equalizer in the second half and Marseille goalkeeper Pau Lopez made several decisive saves to keep his team ahead Marseille was lucky not to concede again as the hosts hit the woodwork twiceBEN YEDDER HITS 80 MARKWissam Ben Yedder scored his 80th career league goal for Monaco in a 20 win at 10man Ajaccio as the Principality side got back to winning ways in the top flightIt was Ben Yedders 17th league goal this season The France striker put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute before Krepin Diatta sealed Monacos win with seven minutes leftAjaccio was forced to play with 10 players for most of the second half after Cyrille Bayala was sent off for a reckless tackle on Caio Henrique in the 51st minuteFourthplace Monaco had picked up only one point from its previous three matchesBen Yedder became the third player in Monacos history to score 80 league goals for the club after Delio Onnis 157 and Lucien Cossou 97He scored from a rebound from close range following a free kick from Henrique Monaco was then in control against a poor Ajaccio side that was punished by Diatta on the counter and remained in the relegation zoneWAHIS DOUBLEMontpelliers revival under coach Michel Der Zakarian continued as the Mediterranean club came from behind to beat Clermont 21 and moved to 11th placeMontpellier is now unbeaten in six matches including five wins since Der Zakarian returned in FebruaryMontpellier had a chance to take the lead in the 13th minute but Stephy Mavididi hit the post SaiumlfEddine Khaoui then gave Clermont the lead before the upandcoming Wahi turned things round first with a header then a precise shot Wahi has 12 league goals his best tally over a single seasonNICE STAYS UNBEATENSeventhplace Nice extended its 11game unbeaten run but was held to a 11 draw by LorientBamo Meite scored the first goal of his professional career to give the visitors the lead before Gaetan Laborde put the teams levelOTHER RESULTSStrasbourg beat Auxerre 20 to end a threegame winless run and Brest drew 22 at TroyesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever