Stade Rennais FC were held to a 2-2 draw by Paris Saint-Germain in a thrilling Ligue 1 season opener at Roazhon Park on Saturday. The hosts built a commanding two-goal lead by halftime, only for a second-half brace from substitute Ferran Torres to salvage a point for the back-to-back Champions League winners.
How did the match unfold?
The 2026-27 campaign kicked off under unusual circumstances, with the fixture reversed and played in Stade Rennais FC due to the poor pitch condition at the Parc des Princes. Stade Rennais started brightly, with Al-Taamari firing a long-range effort just one minute in. The breakthrough came quickly. Szymanski finished off a swift counter-attack to put Stade Rennais FC ahead inside nine minutes. Esteban Lepaul doubled the advantage seven minutes before the break, sending the home crowd into raptures. PSG, fielding a starting XI comprised solely of players from the previous season as chosen by manager Luis Enrique, lacked cutting edge, with Ousmane Dembélé missing a big chance just before halftime.
What changes turned the game?
Luis Enrique made a decisive double change at the interval. He brought on Ferran Torres and Mika Godts for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, with both substitutes making their competitive debuts for the Parisian club. The move shifted the momentum. Warren Zaïre-Emery first missed a point-blank chance, but the sustained pressure eventually told. Ferran Torres pulled a goal back in the 70th minute, scoring his first for PSG. Thirteen minutes later, Torres completed his brace with a powerful header, securing a dramatic draw. PSG entered this match after a busy preseason featuring two friendlies and two finals, including a UEFA Super Cup win against Aston Villa (2-1).
What were the starting lineups?
Julien Stéphan selected Steve Mandanda in goal for Stade Rennais FC, behind a back four of Cresswell, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Frankowski, and Nagida. The midfield trio was Rongier, Thomasson, and Szymanski, supporting an attack of Al-Taamari, Lepaul, and Soumaré. For PSG, Luis Enrique started Safonov in goal. The defense featured Marquinhos, Pacho, Lucas Hernandez, and Hakimi. Warren Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, and João Neves formed the midfield, with an attacking line of Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, and Doué. The full team sheets can be reviewed on our squad page.
What does this result mean going forward?
This late-saved point provides a mixed start to the season for Stade Rennais FC, who must build on an excellent first-half performance. The team showed it can hurt a top side but also revealed a vulnerability in managing a lead. The Ligue 1 schedule is already congested, and the Rouge et Noir must quickly focus on their next fixture. You can view the full upcoming schedule on our fixtures page. This match, initially reported by psgpost.com, confirms the battle at the top of the table will be tight this season. Detailed statistics from this and other matches are available in our stats section.
