Ligue 1 round-up: Julian Draxler nets PSG winner on league debut

Julian Draxler scored on his Ligue 1 debut as Paris St Germain beat Rennes 1-0 at Roazhon Park on Saturday.

The Germany international joined PSG from Wolfsburg for a reported £38m at the start of the January transfer window, and made his first appearance in the Coupe de France tie against Bastia, scoring the final goal of a 7-0 trashing.

Draxler was on target again on Saturday to put the defending Ligue 1 champions ahead late in the first half.

PSG, who have now claimed back-to-back wins in the league having previously taken just one point from three games, remain in third place but are now level on 42 points with Monaco and two behind Nice, with both title rivals playing on Sunday.

Unai Emery's men almost got off to a flying start when Edinson Cavani went clear, but Benoit Costil saved before the Rennes keeper also denied Draxler and Blaise Matuidi.

PSG went ahead six minutes before half-time after Italy international Marco Verratti played in Draxler, who swept a sidefoot shot past Costil.

The visitors continued to press during the second half, as Thiago Motta almost went through on goal but his touch was heavy.

Rennes mounted a counter during the closing stages as Wesley Said and Benjamin Andre finally called PSG 'keeper Kevin Trapp into action

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot almost grabbed a late second for PSG, but his volley was saved by the busy Costil.