Injury-ravaged PSG extend Ligue 1 lead with Rennes win

Angel Di Maria is the last forward standing at PSG.
EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Paris Saint-Germain suffered more injury woes as they thrashed visitors Stade Rennes 3-0 to extend their advantage at the top of Ligue 1 to five points on Saturday.

Angel Di Maria scored twice after an early opener from Italian striker Moise Kean, who joined a long list of injured players, leaving coach Thomas Tuchel without all of his main forwards except the Argentine.

The result put the French champions on 24 points from 10 games before second-placed Lille visit Brest on Sunday.

Rennes stay third on 18 points.

Kean scored his third Ligue 1 goal in four games to put the hosts ahead in the 11th minute with a cross-shot after being set up by Di Maria, who benefitted from sloppy play by Rennes.

PSG, already without injured Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Presnel Kimpembe, Mauro Icardi, Marco Verratti, Julian Draxler, Juan Bernat and Pablo Sarabia, suffered more woes when Idrissa Gueye limped off the pitch to be replaced by Rafinha one minute later.

Di Maria then doubled their tally 10 minutes later with a delightful lob for his 85th PSG goal before fullback Thilo Kehrer was forced out injured and replaced by Mitchel Bakker.

Kean limped off the pitch shortly before the hour and was substituted for defensive midfielder Danilo Pereira.

Di Maria was at it again in the 73rd, adding the third goal with a deflected shot against the run of play.

Earlier, Montpellier jumped into sixth place on 17 points with a 2-0 victory at mid-table Girondins de Bordeaux