ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Ferran Torres scored a late double to rescue a point for PSG against Rennes.
- Rennes led 2-0 at half-time through Szymanski and Lepaul goals before the draw.
- PSG failed to find a winner despite Fabián Ruiz providing both Torres goals.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
PSG’s late comeback against Rennes reveals a troubling habit of conceding early despite their star‑laden lineup. Ferran Torres, introduced off the bench, scored both goals, each set up by Fabián Ruiz, while Rennes had taken a 2‑0 lead through Sebastian Szymanski’s ninth‑minute strike and Esteban Lepaul’s finish seven minutes before halftime. PSG only levelled in the 71st and 83rd minutes, leaving them to salvage a point rather than impose their authority from the outset.
This dependence on impact substitutes masks a lack of urgency in the opening periods; if PSG continue to allow opponents to build two‑goal leads, elite sides will exploit the gap before the bench can respond. The squad’s depth is an asset, but it cannot replace a proactive start that dictates the tempo of the game.
PSG’s next Ligue 1 fixture against Marseille will test whether they can begin with higher intensity and avoid falling into an early deficit.
WHY IT MATTERS
The draw highlights PSG's vulnerability against organized defensive structures, as they conceded early goals despite dominating possession. It underscores the need for clinical finishing to convert late pressure into maximum points.
Julian Alvarez
ST
Argentina
Strengths
- ✓Julián Álvarez’s movement and positioning create space for teammates in the final third.
- ✓His ability to link play between midfield and attack facilitates quick transitions.
- ✓Álvarez’s work rate and defensive contribution help maintain team shape during possession.
- ⚠Does Julián Álvarez’s current role fully utilize his elite finishing ability?
- ⚠How sustainable is his high-intensity pressing rhythm over a full season?
TACTICAL FIT
Torres’ movement off the bench provided the decisive late-game threat, beating the offside trap and finishing Ruiz’s passes. His introduction shifted the dynamic, allowing PSG to recover from a two-goal deficit effectively.
THE DEBATE
Is Ferran Torres a genuine savior or a symptom of PSG's inconsistency?
Guardian sport and agencies
Sun 23 Aug 2026 17.48 EDT First published on Sun 23 Aug 2026 10.12 EDT
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Ferran Torres came off the bench to score a late double on his debut as Paris Saint-Germain rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 with hosts Rennes in their Ligue 1 season opener on Sunday. Sebastian Szymanski and Esteban Lepaul gave the home side a 2-0 lead at half-time but PSG piled on the pressure in the second period and were rewarded with a point.
Rennes led inside nine minutes as Szymanski’s shot went in off the post to provide the perfect start to the season for the hosts. Désiré Doué thought he had levelled for PSG, but his effort was ruled out for offside, and the home side made it 2-0 seven minutes before the break. Przemyslaw Frankowski found space on the right wing and his low cross into the box was turned into the net by Lepaul.
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PSG pulled a goal back with 19 minutes remaining as Torres’ clever run beat the offside trap and he collected a Fabián Ruiz pass and scored his first goal for the club since his move from Barcelona. Torres then levelled the scores in the 83rd minute, and again Ruiz was the provider with a cross from the left, as the Spanish duo dragged their side back into the contest but could not help them find a winner.
**Atl****ético Madrid ** salvaged a 2-2 draw against ** Villarreal ** in La Liga despite having defender Robin Le Normand sent off. Giuliano Simeone grabbed his team a draw after penalties from Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze put Villarreal in front following Marc Pubill’s 59th-minute opener for the hosts.
The Atlético head coach, Diego Simeone, brought Julián Álvarez on as a second-half substitute to a chorus of boos from home supporters. The forward walked down the tunnel alone at the end, while his teammates were thanking the Atlético supporters.
** Barcelona ** began their title defence and bid for a third successive crown with a 5-0 victory at ** Elche ** as Raphinha and Fermín López scored twice each.
Mohamed Salah scored his first goals for ** Trabzonspor ** with a brace in their 2-1 win over ** Istanbul Basaksehir **. The former Liverpool forward joined the Super Lig side on a two-year deal at the start of August and made his debut for the club from the bench in their 1-1 draw at Kasimpasa last week. Salah was named in the starting lineup for the clash with Basaksehir and made an instant impact, opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
Basaksehir levelled in the 19th minute when Eldor Shomurodov slotted home from the penalty spot, but Salah restored his side’s lead just three minutes into the second half. His brace was enough to clinch victory for Trabzonspor, who return to Super Lig action on 31 August against Amed SK.
In Serie A, Ruben Amorim started his ** Milan ** reign with a 2-1 victory at ** Torino **. The second-half substitute Adrien Rabiot set up Alphadjo Cissè’s 64th-minute opener and then scored himself three minutes later. Ché Adams scored a stunning consolation deep in stoppage time for Torino.
** Juventus ** secured a 1-0 away win against newly promoted ** Frosinone **, but failed to impress in their opening match of the season.
Juve, who finished sixth last season, secured all three points thanks to Gleison Bremer’s 22nd-minute header. Luciano Spalletti’s side went on to dominate but failed to put the game beyond doubt. The goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, on loan from Tottenham, picked up a leg injury and had to be substituted late on, which nearly cost Juve as Frosinone pressed hard in stoppage time, hitting the crossbar.
Another of the newly promoted teams, ** Monza **, were thrashed 4-1 by the champions, ** Inter **, on Saturday in the season opener. ** Lecce ** made a strong start to the season against the third promoted side, ** Venezia **, on Sunday as they defeated their hosts 2-0 courtesy of second-half goals from Olaf Gorter and Tiago Gabriel.
The ** Bayern Munich ** striker Harry Kane was voted the 2026 player of the year in Germany by an association of sports journalists on Sunday, finishing ahead of teammate Michael Olise. Kicker magazine revealed the results of its yearly polls of members of the Association of German Sports Journalists. Kane, the England captain, won the award after a stellar season in which he won the Bundesliga and German Cup while Bayern also reached the Champions League semi-finals. Bayern’s Vincent Kompany was named coach of the year, while their women’s captain, Giulia Gwinn, won the award for best female player.
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