Rennes 2-2 PSG: Enrique's side are held as Ferran Torres nets brace to equalize

Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 title defence began with a Ferran Torres-inspired comeback as his double saw them come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rennes. 

Match Report

Luis Enrique's side appeared set for an opening-day defeat after first-half strikes from Sebastian Szymanski and Esteban Lepaul put Rennes in control at Roazhon Park.

However, on his debut for PSG, Ferran scored twice in 11 minutes to haul the champions level, although they were unable to find a late winner.

PSG were stunned in the ninth minute when a lightning break ended with Szymanski rifling a left-footed shot from 25 yards out that whistled past Matvey Safonov and nestled into the net off the post.

Ousmane Dembele then fired over after good work from Achraf Hakimi, and that miss proved costly as moments later, Przemyslaw Frankowski crossed for Lepaul to tuck home Rennes' second. 

Ferran and Mika Godts were introduced into the action at the break, and PSG should have pulled one back soon after the restart, only for Brice Samba to produce a sensational double save to deny Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery. 

But Ferran would not be denied a debut goal in the 71st minute when he beat the offside trap before finishing past Samba after he was picked out by Fabian Ruiz from deep. 

And the same duo combined eight minutes from time to ensure a share of the spoils, with Fabian's teasing cross flicked into the bottom-right corner by Ferran, though Rennes almost snatched all three points. 

Ludovic Blas met a cross with a powerful header that beat Safonov, but Willian Pacho was on hand to clear off the line and preserve a point.

Ferran bails PSG out as Barcola and Mbaye sit out

This fixture was moved to Roazhon Park after the Parc des Princes pitch was damaged because of the heatwave in France, and it took until Ferran's introduction for PSG to finally catch fire on Sunday. 

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Dembele were both substituted at the break, and the introductions of Ferran, Godts and Maghnes Akliouche certainly livened things up in the final third, proving PSG are in capable hands given the in-demand Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye were not involved. 

Ferran, fresh from scoring Spain's winner in the World Cup final, made 207 appearances for Barcelona and scored 65 goals, though 94 of his outings came from the bench amid fierce competition for minutes in the Blaugrana's attack, but he proved here he could be Luis Enrique's main man this season. 

And Fabian, another World Cup winner in PSG's ranks, also had his say. Despite only coming on in the 60th minute, he set up both of Ferran's goals and created three chances, more than any other player for the visitors. 

PSG have now won nine of their last 12 Ligue 1 season opening matches, and they will want to see improvements, having also lost the Trophee des Champions to Lens last weekend. They finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.91 from their 19 shots compared to Rennes' 1.07 from their nine attempts. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' Match Event for Rennes vs PSG

9' GOAL! Rennes 1-0 PSG (Sebastian Szymanski)

20' Match Event for Rennes vs PSG

37' Match Event for Rennes vs PSG

38' GOAL! Rennes 2-0 PSG (Estéban Lepaul)

55' Highlight from Rennes vs PSG

60' Highlight from Rennes vs PSG

69' Highlight from Rennes vs PSG

71' GOAL! Rennes 2-1 PSG (Ferran Torres)

76' Match Event for Rennes vs PSG

82' GOAL! Rennes 2-2 PSG (Ferran Torres)

88' Match Event for Rennes vs PSG

Line-ups

Rennes XI: Brice Samba, Thomasson, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Rongier, Sebastian Szymanski, Mousa Al-Tamari, Estéban Lepaul, Issa Soumaré, Charlie Cresswell, Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahamadou Nagida

Subs: L.Blas, Arnaud Nordin, Bryan Reynolds, Anthony Rouault, Quentin Merlin, Eliezer Mayenda, Kilian Belazzoug, Henrick Do Marcolino, Elías Legendre Quiñónez

PSG XI: Marquinhos, Lucas, Dembele, Hakimi, Safonov, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Pacho, Zaire-Emery, Doue, João Neves

Subs: Digne, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Ilya Zabarnyi, Lucas Chevalier, Beraldo, Maghnes Akliouche, Mika Godts, Dro Fernández