A ruined pitch in Paris, two Rennes goals in Brittany, and Ferran Torres off the bench
PSG's home opener was moved to Roazhon Park after the Parc des Princes surface was ruled unplayable. They then went 2-0 down inside 38 minutes and needed a substitute's double to leave with a point.
PSG were supposed to open the season at home. A summer of exceptional heatwaves in the Paris region, plus a fungal infection in the surface, left the Parc des Princes pitch unusable, and the LFP's competitions committee moved the fixture to Roazhon Park after a site visit. Rennes became the home side days before kick-off.
Rennes took the invitation seriously. Sebastian Szymański scored at 9', Esteban Lepaul made it 2-0 at 38', and the champions went in at half-time two down in a stadium they were never meant to be visiting.
Ferran Torres: two shots, two goals
Ferran Torres came on at half-time and scored at 71' and 82'. Two shots, two goals, one point saved.
PSG had 70% of the ball and 665 accurate passes at 90%, against Rennes' 250 at 78%. For forty-five minutes it bought them nothing. Rennes defended deep, broke fast and finished — 1.07 expected goals and two actual ones.
The champions finished on 1.91 xG and five shots on target. That is not a bad night's work. It is a bad first half, followed by a substitute fixing it.
Match facts
- Venue moved from the Parc des Princes to Roazhon Park by the LFP competitions committee, the pitch ruled unplayable
- 9' — Sebastian Szymański (Rennes)
- 38' — Esteban Lepaul (Rennes)
- 71' — Ferran Torres (PSG)
- 82' — Ferran Torres (PSG)
| Stat | Rennes | Paris Saint-Germain |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 30% | 70% |
| Shots on target | 3 | 5 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 1.07 | 1.91 |
| Accurate passes | 250 (78%) | 665 (90%) |
What's next
PSG start their title defence on one point, away from home, off the back of a comeback. Rennes start on one too — and with the knowledge that they were forty-five minutes from beating the champions in a game they were not supposed to be hosting.
Picks for you
Advertising. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission on your purchases, at no extra cost to you. It does not influence our editorial coverage.
Keep reading
International FootballMbappé scores three in forty minutes and the Bernabéu barely needs the ball
Real Madrid had 51% possession and 20 shots, eleven of them on target. Kylian Mbappé took a hat-trick, Vinícius added a fourth, and Real Sociedad's goalkeeper made seven saves.
International FootballValencia block eight of their own shots' worth of hope, and Betis win it on 83
Sixteen shots for Valencia, eight of them blocked, three on target and none in. Pablo García scored the only goal with seven minutes to play.
International FootballChelsea were ahead after 31 seconds, 3-1 up by the hour, and still had to survive the last half hour
Xabi Alonso's first league game gave him three goals, three points and a goalkeeper he will want to talk to. Fulham had 61.5% of the ball and two goals that both went through Robert Sanchez.