Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi combined to score dramatic late winner for PSG vs Rennes | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain secured a win over Rennes in the most dramatic style possible on Friday night.

The French giants looked laboured, fatigued and bereft of ideas for the umpteenth time in Ligue 1 this season, but still managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat by scoring in stoppage time.

It really is remarkable when you consider just how much Mauricio Pochettino’s front line was struggling throughout the 90 minutes despite casually boasting Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

It looked for the longest time that PSG were going to be held to a goalless draw with the Parisians showing nowhere near the sort of potency and lethality that you’d expect from such a talented front-line.

That being said, the star-studded duo combined when it mattered most as Mbappe, who had been denied an earlier goal by the offside flag, scored from Messi’s assist when it mattered most.

PSG launched a counterattack in injury time when the ball eventually landed to Messi, and you could certainly rely upon the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner to provide a creative spark.

Mbappe scores dramatic late winner

The Barcelona legend might have struggled for goals in France’s top-flight this season, but he certainly hasn’t underperformed in the assists department as he added his eighth against Rennes.

Messi showed the effortless composure that we’ve come to expect from him by slipping the ball to Mbappe, who provided the finishing touch with a Thierry Henry-like finish to save the day for PSG.

Marry that to the latest in a catalogue of badass celebrations from Mbappe as he nonchalantly leaned up against the corner flag and PSG’s act of escapology is well worth checking out:

Ah, you can’t beat a late winner, can you?

A much-needed confidence boost

It might not be a life-changingly good goal and Doğan Alemdar probably could have saved it, but it’s hard to downplay the importance of Mbappe coming up clutch in the grand scheme of PSG’s season.

Not only did Rennes come into the game as the only team to have beaten PSG in the league this season, but the Parc des Princes side’s next match just happens to be against Real Madrid.

It’s a crunch Champions League game that could well decide whether or not PSG end their wait for European glory and that’s before we even mention the inevitable narrative swirling around Mbappe.

As such, the added injection of confidence that came with snatching three points when they looked unsalvageable might just be the kick up the backside for PSG to perform when it matters most.

At least, it needs to be because Pochettino’s men will be found out if they play anywhere as poorly as they did against Rennes when it’s Real Madrid staring at them from the other side of the pitch.