PSG lose at home in French league for first time this season

PARIS (AP):

Arnaud Kalimuendo scored against his boyhood club as leader Paris Saint-Germain were beaten 2-0 by Rennes in their first home loss in the French league this season yesterday.

The win ended PSG's 35-match unbeaten run in the league at the Parc des Princes.

The 21-year-old Kalimuendo joined PSG's youth system when he was nine years old and signed with Rennes last summer, seeking 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 Lens.

Rennes, who had already prevailed in the corresponding fixture in Brittany two months ago, made the most of PSG's passivity and relied on goalkeeper Steve Mandanda's decisive saves to produce a clean sheet. Karl Toko Ekambi scored Rennes' first goal.

PSG looked slow and lethargic, relying in vain on the skills of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

Mbappe had two good chances to break the deadlock in the first half, but the France star was denied twice.

Rennes waited patiently and took their chance at the stroke of halftime when Benjamin Bourigeaud picked out Toko Ekambi behind the defence. The Cameroon forward controlled the ball with a delicate touch and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with an angled shot.

PSG players were whistled off the field by some fans, and things got worse when they returned from the locker room.

Kalimuendo made it 2-0 in the 48th after PSG clumsily gave the ball away in midfield. He did not celebrate his goal.

Meanwhile, Wissam Ben Yedder scored his 80th career league goal for Monaco in a 2-0 win at 10-man Ajaccio as they got back to winning ways in the top flight.

It was Ben Yedder's 17th league goal this season. The France striker put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute before Krepin Diatta sealed Monaco's win with seven minutes left.

Montpellier's revival under coach Michel Der Zakarian continued as the Mediterranean club came from behind to beat Clermont 2-1 and moved to 11th place.

Montpellier are now unbeaten in six matches, including five wins, since Der Zakarian returned in February.

Seventh-place Nice extended their 11-game unbeaten run but was held to a 1-1 draw by Lorient.

Bamo Meite scored the first goal of his professional career to give the visitors the lead before Gaetan Laborde put the teams level.

In other results, Strasbourg beat Auxerre 2-0 to end a three-game winless run and Brest drew 2-2 at Troyes.