PARIS, March 7, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain will hope to boost
morale when they go to Rennes in Ligue 1 this weekend before attempting to
overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their Champions League last-16
tie against Liverpool.

PSG were incredibly unlucky not to beat the English Premier League leaders at
the Parc des Princes in Wednesday's first leg, a game in which they had 65
percent possession and 28 attempts on goal to the visitors' two.

But the Parisians were denied by an inspired performance from Liverpool
goalkeeper Alisson Becker, which included one stunning late stop from a
Desire Doue shot.

There was also a marginal offside decision to rule out a Khvicha
Kvaratskhelia strike in the first half, the Georgian's left calf being just
ahead of the last defender.

Harvey Elliott scored the winner for Liverpool in the 87th minute, and the
loss for PSG ended a run of 10 straight victories in all competitions in
which they had scored 40 goals, as well as a streak of 22 games unbeaten.

Now the reigning French champions face the daunting task of having to win at
Anfield if they are to avoid being eliminated from Europe's elite club
competition in the last 16 for the sixth time in nine seasons.

However, coach Luis Enrique and his players struck a defiant note following
the first leg.

"The game was not decided by little details," Luis Enrique said, describing
the outcome of the match as "unfair".

"We lost because Alisson made five incredible saves. Liverpool played the way
they did because we didn't let them play the way they normally play.

"One team was far, far superior."

Before heading to England, PSG will look to maintain their unbeaten domestic
record this season when they play a Rennes side enjoying a revival under new
coach Habib Beye.

Paris are cruising towards their 11th Ligue 1 title in 13 seasons, their lead
over second-placed Marseille currently 13 points.

It is more than two years since they were beaten away from home in the
league, but mid-table Rennes have won four of their five matches played since
Beye's appointment.

"We are not going to pretend to be victims, we know what type of team PSG
are," former Marseille, Newcastle United and Aston Villa defender Beye said
on Thursday ahead of Saturday's clash in Brittany.

"Either we capitulate or we go out with our heads held high and with
ambition."

Player to watch: Emanuel Emegha

Strasbourg have emerged as outside contenders for European qualification
thanks in large part to an outstanding defensive record in recent months.

Liam Rosenior's team have kept four straight clean sheets, and have conceded
only five goals in their last 11 league outings, with seven wins, three draws
and just one defeat in that time.

However, 22-year-old Dutch forward Emegha has also played a vital role in
that fine run. Emegha is a former Sturm Graz player, just like new Monaco
sensation Mika Biereth.

While Biereth has just scored hat-tricks in three of his last five Ligue 1
appearances, Emegha has netted eight times in nine league games.

Four of Strasbourg's seven defeats this season have come with Emegha out
injured.

Key stats

7 - PSG have lost seven times against Rennes since the Qatari takeover of
2011, more than against any other team in that time

100 - Gianluigi Donnarumma could make his 100th Ligue 1 appearance for PSG
this weekend

7 - Relegation battlers Le Havre are looking to end a run of seven straight
home league defeats this weekend

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Friday

Toulouse v Monaco (1945)

Saturday

Rennes v Paris Saint-Germain (1600), Lille v Montpellier (1800), Marseille v
Lens (2005)

Sunday

Brest v Angers (1400), Nantes v Strasbourg, Reims v Auxerre, Le Havre v
Saint-Etienne (1615), Nice v Lyon (1945)