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.
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