Kylian Mbappe saved a penalty but then scored the only goal of the game as Paris Saint-Germain beat Rennes 1-0 in the Coupe de France semi-finals on Wednesday to set up a meeting with Lyon. Mbappe saw Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda save a 37th-minute penalty at the Parc des Princes, but the France captain’s shot deflected into the net three minutes later. It was Mbappe’s 39th goal of the season in all competitions for PSG and he looks certain to surpass the 40-game mark for the third time in four seasons.

PSG will look to beat second-tier side Valenciennes 3-0 in Tuesday’s first semi-final and set up the final in Lille on May 25 as they look to extend their record 14 French Cup wins .

They have won the competition six times in seven seasons but have failed in the past two seasons, with Nantes lifting the trophy in 2022 and Toulouse succeeding them last year.

“I’m very happy. The Coupe de France is one of our main goals this season and winning the final is a satisfaction for all of us,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said.

The final at the end of next month could be Mbappe’s final game as a PSG player, with the 25-year-old having informed the club of his intention to leave at the end of this season’s contract.

The Ligue 1 season ends on May 18, and although the Champions League final will be held in London on June 1, PSG are still active in Europe and will face Barcelona in the first leg of the quarter-finals next week.

Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain are 12 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with seven games remaining, having already won the Ligue 1 trophy at the start of the year, meaning they remain hopeful of a sweep this season All honors.

“We all want to win trophies for the club and we are on the right path,” the coach said.

“At the highest level of football the difference between winning and losing is very small, but we are in a good position in the league and cup, we won the Super Cup and we are where we want to be in the Champions League.”

Penalty shot saved

Their match against a Rennes side that drew 1-1 with Paris a month ago was not an easy one, and Rennes looked good for much of Wednesday’s game.

However, the home team almost took the lead in the 12th minute. Dembele let go of Mbappe and accelerated towards the goal, but Mandanda’s shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced back.

Mbappe was awarded a penalty after being fouled by Wamide Omari in the box, but Mandanda’s save meant it was only the third time this season that the PSG star has been denied a spot-kick.

Unfortunately for Mandanda, there was nothing the former France international goalkeeper could do and Mbappe was caught off guard when his shot in the 40th minute touched Omari.

Paris failed to keep the game safe in the second half but Rennes also lacked the quality needed to equalize and force a penalty shootout, even with their attacking talisman Martin Tyrell coming on as a substitute.

Rennes currently sit eighth in Ligue 1 and now can only focus on competing for European qualification.

Lyon will try to win the cup for the sixth time in their history after beating Valenciennes thanks to two goals from Alexandre Lacazette.

Their last trophy came in 2012 when they won the Coupe de France.