PSG Looks for Revenge Against Rennes

The opening weekend of France's Ligue 1 for the 2026/27 season features an exceptionally thrilling clash between Rennes and Paris Saint-Germain. The match was originally scheduled to be played in the capital, but due to significant damage to the Parc des Princes pitch, caused by France's summer heatwave, the fixture has been relocated to Roazhon Park in Brittany.

Paris Saint-Germain enters the new campaign with their customary high ambitions and status as title favorites. Led by Luis Enrique, the Parisians have already commenced their official matches for the season. They triumphed in the European Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in Salzburg, but quickly faced disappointment, losing the French Super Cup 0-1 to Lens, despite their opponents playing almost the entire second half with a man down.

Rennes, on the other hand, begins the new championship under the guidance of Franck Haise. The team returns to the European stage and appears significantly strengthened compared to last year. The Bretons are seeking stability, hoping to continue their strong home performance.

Both clubs have been highly active in the transfer market. In Paris, the sporting and technical staff have focused on revamping the attacking line. New arrivals include Mika Gods from Ajax (for approximately 55 million euros), Manes Akliouche from Monaco, and Ferran Torres from Barcelona. Conversely, the team saw the departures of Randal Kolo Muani, who moved to Juventus, and Kang-in Lee, who joined Atlético Madrid.

Rennes also completed key deals, signing defender Charlie Cresswell from Toulouse for whom they paid 28 million euros. Meanwhile, the club parted ways with Breel Embolo (who transferred to Atlanta United) and loaned out Glenn Kamara to Queens Park Rangers and Jordan James to Wolverhampton.

Rennes' results during their summer pre-season were inconsistent. The team secured a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge and played out an exciting 3-3 draw against Galatasaray, but also recorded three defeats—against Brentford's B team (1-2), Brentford's senior squad (2-4), and Sunderland (1-2).

Paris Saint-Germain played a series of high-profile matches before the start of Ligue 1. Besides their European Super Cup win against Aston Villa (2-1) and the French Super Cup loss to Lens (0-1), the champions drew 1-1 in friendlies against Manchester United and Arsenal, and also suffered a 0-3 defeat to Mallorca.

History shows that visits to Roazhon Park are rarely easy for the Parisians. In the last 7 encounters between the two teams at this stadium, Rennes has secured four victories, while PSG has won only twice, with one draw. In their last match in Brittany in February 2026, the hosts prevailed 3-1. Overall, in the last 10 direct clashes, the capital club has 6 wins, Rennes has 3 victories, and one match ended in a draw.

Both coaches are expected to opt for a 4-3-3 formation. For Rennes, the participation of suspended midfielder Mehdi Camara is questionable, while PSG will be without defender Nuno Mendes, who is also serving a suspension. Upfront for the hosts, Ludovic Blas, Esteban Leopol, and Issa Soumaré are expected to feature, with Brice Samba in goal. For PSG, the attack will rely on Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and new signing Manes Akliouche.