Rennes stun Messi’s PSG

PARIS (AP):

Rennes scored just before and after the break to beat Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 2-0 yesterday and hand the runaway league leaders their first defeat of the season.

Gaetan Laborde put Rennes ahead on the stroke of half-time after PSG star Lionel Messi had hit the crossbar with a free kick in the 31st minute. Laborde turned provider in the 46th for midfielder Flavien Tait.

"We played a very physical game and we hurt them on each of our runs," Tait said. "They were missing something today."

PSG won their opening eight games but needed injury-time goals to edge victories against Lyon and Metz.

"The first person responsible is me," PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said after he was outwitted by Rennes coach Bruno Genesio.

PSG are six points ahead of second-placed Lens and eight clear of third-placed Nice, who have played one game less.

Rennes have been a tough place to visit for PSG in recent seasons and were again so for different reasons.

Because of heavy wind and rain, the team was unable to fly to Brittany on Saturday night and arrived at the stadium by coach and car.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, who scored a brilliant first goal for PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday, had a shot blocked early on. He hit the crossbar with a free kick for the second time since joining PSG in a shock move from Barcelona, where he netted 672 goals.

Although he still awaits his first league goal for PSG, Messi set up Mbappe midway through the first half -- but the shot was scuffed -- and almost created a goal for Neymar.

PSG were punished when Ghana winger Kamaldeen Sulemana picked out Laborde for his league-leading sixth goal.

Mbappe pounced midway through the second half after Messi and Angel Di Maria put him through, but the goal was ruled out after a video review showed Mbappe was offside.

Laborde won a late penalty, but it was called off following a review.