Kylian Mbappe scored PSG's equaliser as they came from a goal behind to beat Rennes
Saturday 3 August 2019 15:52, UK
Angel Di Maria scored the winner with a spectacular free-kick as Paris Saint-Germain recovered to beat Rennes 2-1 to lift the French Super Cup in Shenzhen.
Adrien Hunou had given the French Cup winners the lead despite PSG's dominance in the first-half but Thomas Tuchel's side eventually earned the victory their superiority deserved thanks to second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and substitute Di Maria.
PSG's seventh successive Super Cup win is a record, eclipsing the six won by Lyon from 2002 to 2007, and means they will start the defence of their Ligue 1 title in high spirits despite doubts over the future of Neymar.
The Brazilian forward, who has been linked with a return to Barcelona, was watching the match from the stands of the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre stadium and he saw Rennes take a surprise 13th minute lead seconds after PSG defender Thilo Kehrer had clipped the top of the crossbar with a header at the other end.
Hunou made no mistake for Rennes when he emerged unmarked to casually steer Benjamin Bourigeaud's cross beyond Alphonse Areola with the inside of his left thigh.
It was a rare sight of goal in the opening 45 minutes for the French Cup winners, with PSG regularly threatening to level the scores but without success.
Pablo Sarabia's long-range attempt arced away from goal before Edinson Cavani fired a free kick off target, while Mbappe dragged a shot wide five minutes before halftime.
Cavani went closer just before the break, steering the ball wide from inside the six-yard box when he reacted first to Tomas Koubek's fumble.
The long-awaited equaliser came 12 minutes into the second half when Marquinhos lofted a perfectly weighted ball that found Pablo Sarabia unmarked behind the Rennes defence and his pass allowed Mbappe to score into an unguarded net.
Sarabia almost put PSG in front three minutes later when Mbappe's tantalising ball across the face of the Rennes goal was unwittingly turned over the bar by the Spaniard.
PSG's winner came 17 minutes from time when Di Maria - introduced in the 61st minute in place of new signing Ander Herrera - hit a left-footed dipping curler over the wall beyond Koubek.
