Ferran Torres scores twice on PSG debut to secure 2-2 draw at Rennes
Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against Stade Rennes in their Ligue 1 opener, as second-half substitute Ferran Torres scored twice on his club debut.
Rennes takes early two-goal advantage
Paris Saint-Germain began their Ligue 1 title defence with a 2-2 draw away at Stade Rennes on Sunday evening. The reigning French champions and two-time Champions League winners started the match with an attacking front three consisting of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué. Rennes opened the scoring in the ninth minute when former Feyenoord player Sebastian Szymański beat the Parisian defence. The home side doubled their advantage in the 38th minute through a goal from Esteban Lepaul, sending Rennes into the half-time break with a 2-0 lead.
- Sebastian Szymański opens the scoring for Stade Rennes
- Esteban Lepaul doubles the lead for Rennes
- Ferran Torres and Mika Godts enter as substitutes for PSG
- Ferran Torres scores PSG's first goal from a Fabián Ruiz assist
- Ferran Torres equalizes with a header from a Fabián Ruiz cross
Tactical adjustments at the interval
Confronted with a two-goal deficit, PSG manager Luis Enrique made immediate changes to his attacking lineup before the restart. Luis Enrique withdrew Dembélé at the break to introduce Spanish international Ferran Torres, wearing the number nine shirt. The manager also replaced Kvaratskhelia with 21-year-old Belgian forward Mika Godts, who joined the Parisian club from Ajax earlier in the week for a transfer fee of 45 million euros. Godts played out the remainder of the contest, earning his first competitive minutes in French football without registering a shot on target.
Torres leads late Parisian recovery
Torres made his first competitive appearance since scoring the winning goal for Spain in the 1-0 World Cup final against Argentina in New Jersey on 19 July. The 50 million euro arrival from FC Barcelona made an immediate impact in the final quarter of the match. In the 71st minute, Spanish midfielder Fabián Ruiz sent a through pass into the penalty area to find Torres, who controlled the ball with his right foot and slipped a shot between the legs of Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba.
- Valencia
- 9 goals
- Manchester City
- 16 goals
- FC Barcelona
- 65 goals
- Paris Saint-Germain
- 2 goals
Eleven minutes later, the Spanish pair combined for the equalizer. In the 82nd minute, Ruiz delivered a cross into the box, allowing Torres to direct a diagonal header past Samba into the net. PSG controlled possession throughout the closing stages in search of a winning goal, but the Rennes defence held firm until the final whistle, forcing both sides to share the points in their season opener.
Career scoring record across four clubs
The brace marked Torres's first goals for PSG in his first 45 minutes on the pitch. Paris Saint-Germain is the fourth senior club for which the Spanish forward has scored, following 9 goals for Valencia, 16 for Manchester City, and 65 for Barcelona. While PSG avoided defeat in Brittany, the draw leaves the defending champions with a single point after round one of the league campaign.
