Kylian Mbappé made his return from a post-World Cup holiday but Paris Saint-Germain went down 1-0 away to Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday, a result which leaves them just three points clear at the top of the table halfway through the season.
Rennes captain Hamari Traore scored the game's only goal in the 65th minute in the rain in Brittany to condemn PSG to a second successive away league loss after they went down 3-1 at second-placed Lens on New Year's Day.
Prior to that they had gone unbeaten through their first 23 matches this season in all competitions and this latest setback gives their rivals hope in the title race. "I am disappointed with our performance because we conceded too many chances and created nothing," said PSG coach Christophe Galtier, who complained of a "total absence of a presence in the penalty box" after opting to leave Mbappe on the bench at kick-off.
This was the first time that Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar had appeared on the pitch together since PSG's superstar attacking trio returned from the World Cup.
Mbappe was expected to start on Sunday but instead began on the bench as the 20-year-old Hugo Ekitike played in front of Messi and Neymar.
Without their leading scorer PSG were blunt up front and Rennes goalkeeper Steve Mandanda did not have a save of note to make until he kept out a Danilo Pereira header three minutes into the second half.
Mbappé replaced Ekitike in the 56th minute and did so to applause from the home fans.
Yet Rennes went ahead soon after as their Malian right-back Traore swept in a cutback from Adrien Truffert, and Mbappé — making his 200th Ligue 1 appearance — then squandered a chance to equalise when he burst through on goal but blazed over with just the goalkeeper to beat.
With Neymar again ineffective and Messi not having the expected impact, it was Juan Bernat who came closest to equalising for PSG with a shot that was tipped over by Mandanda.
Galtier will hope his attacking trio can rediscover their early-season form quickly with a Champions League last-16 showdown with Bayern Munich now just a month away.
