Torres Double Denies Rennes as PSG Open Ligue 1 Title Defence With Draw

Ferran Torres scored twice after coming off the bench as Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 2-2 draw by Rennes in their opening Ligue 1 match of the season.

The Spain World Cup winner made his league debut for PSG and opened his scoring account for the club, only weeks after netting Spain’s decisive goal in the World Cup final.

Rennes appeared set for victory after Sebastian Szymanski and Esteban Lepaul put the hosts 2-0 ahead at Roazhon Park. However, Torres turned the game around with two clinical finishes, both created by Spain teammate Fabian Ruiz.

“The game was difficult, we knew it would be,” Torres told Ligue 1+.

“I just put my hand up then with Fabian’s quality, you just have to run and he puts the ball in the right place,” he added.

Luis Enrique opted to keep Torres and fellow new signing Maghnes Akliouche among the substitutes. The match was moved away from PSG’s home ground because of concerns over the condition of the Parc des Princes pitch.

PSG, the reigning Champions League winners, started with former Rennes players Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue in attack, alongside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. They entered the match looking to recover from their 1-0 defeat by Lens in the French Champions’ Trophy a week earlier.

Rennes made the brighter start and took the lead after 21 minutes. Adrien Thomasson, making his league debut following his summer move from Lens, supplied Szymanski, who sent a low effort from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner following Lepaul’s accurate header.

The hosts extended their lead seven minutes before half-time. Rennes broke quickly through Moussa Al Tamari, with a clever back-heel helping create the opening for Lepaul to finish.

PSG had threatened but lacked precision in front of goal, with Dembele and Kvaratskhelia among those unable to test the Rennes goalkeeper. Enrique reacted by bringing Torres on at half-time.

Akliouche and Ruiz joined the action with 30 minutes remaining, and PSG finally reduced the deficit 10 minutes later.

Ruiz picked out Torres, who raced through and beat Brice Samba by sending the ball between the Rennes goalkeeper’s legs.

Eight minutes from the end, Ruiz again provided the decisive delivery. His cross found Torres, who headed past Samba to make it 2-2.

PSG pushed for a winner and controlled the final stages, but Rennes held on for a point.

Giroud Leads Lille to Winning Start Under Davide Ancelotti

Olivier Giroud also rolled back the years earlier in the day, scoring as Lille defeated Angers 2-0 to give new coach Davide Ancelotti a winning start.

Giroud, who will turn 40 next month, broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with a powerful low strike from distance after receiving Nabil Bentaleb’s pass.

Tiago Santos added Lille’s second just after the half-hour mark, volleying in a loose ball after a well-worked attacking move.

Davide Ancelotti, Carlo Ancelotti’s son, became Lille coach in June after Bruno Genesio left the club to take charge of Marseille.

Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last season and earned qualification for the Champions League league phase.

“It wasn’t perfect, but we wanted to start strongly today,” Giroud told Ligue 1+.

“We could have killed the game off earlier,” he added.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi was absent from the matchday squad amid strong links with a possible transfer to Manchester City. The Moroccan midfielder was seen acknowledging travelling Lille supporters after the game.

“We don’t know what will happen,” Giroud said.

“If it happens then we will want to celebrate the win for him,” the former Arsenal striker added.

In another Ligue 1 fixture, former England international Eric Dier scored the decisive goal as Monaco defeated newly promoted Le Havre 1-0 in Normandy.

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