Ligue 1 wrap: Shock defeat for PSG

Stade Rennes upset Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in Ligue 1 action, while defending champions Montpellier drew with high-flying Valenciennes.

Despite playing almost 40 minutes with nine men following red cards to goalkeeper Benoit Costil and midfielder Jean Makoun, Rennes claimed victory thanks to goals from Romain Alessandrini and Julien Feret.

Alessandrini opened the scoring on 14 minutes when the ball broke to him at the edge of the area, firing a superb first-time shot past the helpless Salvatore Sirigu.

PSG’s response was sluggish at first, yet they were awoken when Nene hit the post following a smooth move.

The Brazilian found the net shortly after as he finished superbly after a perfectly-weighted pass from Javier Pastore.

The hosts were breaking the Rennes backline regularly, and when Jeremy Menez was upended by Costil outside the box after 26 minutes, the goalkeeper’s dismissal was the outcome.

Against the run of play, Rennes moved ahead for a second time.

A cheap free-kick conceded by Blaise Matuidi was swept cleverly into the net by Feret.

PSG piled the on the pressure in the second half and their hopes of an equaliser received a boost when Rennes were reduced to nine men following Makoun’s second yellow card just before the hour-mark.

But try as they might, Carlo Ancelotti’s side could not find that elusive goal as Rennes held on for all three points to move sixth, a solitary point behind the capital club.

Montpellier left Valenciennes in high spirits after playing out a 1-1 draw with 10 men.

The reigning champions, who had only won once in five league games heading into the clash, hit the front through Gaetan Charbonnier on 16 minutes but Gregory Pujol levelled the match six minutes before the break.

Elsewhere on Saturday, a brace from Max-Alain Gradel was not enough as Saint-Etienne drew 2-2 at Evian TG.

Troyes came from two goals down to salvage a 3-3 draw with fellow strugglers Nancy and Bastia suffered their third successive defeat after they were soundly beaten 3-0 by Brest.

Sochaux edged Ajaccio 1-0 in the day’s other game.