PSG leave out Neymar again on way to shock Rennes defeat

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Paris St Germain's Juan Bernat and Thiago Silva look dejected after the match REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

RENNES, France (Reuters) - Rennes came from behind to stun lacklustre Paris St Germain with a deserved 2-1 victory at Roazhon Park in France's Ligue 1 on Sunday.

PSG coach Thomas Tuchel left Neymar out of his squad for the second consecutive week amid uncertainty over the forward's future and his side struggled to break down the resilient French Cup holders in the Brazilian's absence.

The visitors were gifted the opener when Edinson Cavani tapped in after a defensive mix-up, but M’Baye Niang’s strike drew Rennes level on the stroke of halftime before Romain Del Castillo headed in the winner early in the second period. PSG captain Thiago Silva insisted that the ongoing saga around his compatriot’s future played no part in his team's poor performance.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes' Clement Grenier in action REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

“For everyone it's difficult, but it's not an excuse,” he told Canal Plus television channel. “Neymar was not there. We must think of ourselves. I hope it's the last (defeat of the season).”

Rennes join Lyon and Nice at the summit of the table on maximum points after the opening two rounds of the season, while the defeat leaves PSG in eighth. The reigning French champions were frustrated by their well-drilled hosts, who have become something of a bogey team for PSG.

Sunday's victory marked Rennes' fifth Ligue 1 win against the Parisians in the last 10 years, more than any other club. They also beat the Parisians in last season's French Cup final.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes' M'Baye Niang celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

“We were not attentive,” Silva conceded. “You have to raise your head, try to be better at the next game because it was not the Paris St Germain that we know.

“A physical problem? I don’t think so. We worked well. Rennes have been more solid defensively, more attentive, I do not know exactly what happened.”

The home side started brightly but they were undone on 36 minutes when Cavani pounced on a slack pass from Damien Da Silva to slot home.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes' Romain Salin and Benjamin Bourigeaud in action with Paris St Germain's Abdou Diallo REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Rennes, though, drew level on the brink of half time when Niang took down a cross just inside the PSG box, turned his marker and lashed a left-foot finish into the bottom corner.

The hosts then took the lead within three minutes of the restart when impressive 16-year-old midfielder Eduardo Camavinga lofted a cross into the path of Del Castillo to head home unmarked from close range.

PSG looked shell-shocked and almost went further behind when defender Jeremy Morel’s volley came back off the post.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes' Romain Del Castillo celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Earlier on Sunday, Saint-Etienne were held 1-1 at home by newly-promoted Brest and Reims and Strasbourg played out a 0-0 stalemate.

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Paris St Germain's Edinson Cavani in action with Stade Rennes' Jeremy Morel REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

(Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie; editing by Tony Lawrence)

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Paris St Germain's Marco Verratti is shown a yellow card by referee Antony Gautier REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Paris St Germain's Edinson Cavani in action with Stade Rennes' Jeremy Morel REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes' Romain Salin in action with Paris St Germain's Julian Draxler REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes coach Julien Stephan celebrates with Eduardo Camavinga after the match REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Paris St Germain coach Thomas Tuchel gestures REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Stade Rennes' Romain Del Castillo celebrates in front of fans after the match REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Stade Rennes v Paris St Germain - Roazhon Park, Rennes, France - August 18, 2019 Paris Saint-Germain chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the stands before the match REUTERS/Stephane Mahe