PSG opens Ligue 1 title defense against Rennes, reigning Champions League back-to-back winner

Ligue 1 kicks off with a heavyweight matchup: the Parc des Princes hosts Rennes this Sunday in the opening round of the French championship. PSG arrives as the reigning champion and carrying the weight of back-to-back Champions League titles, so the pressure to start strong is real, though at home and against this opponent, the Parisians are the clear favorites.

There's one detail that adds extra intrigue to the match: the last meeting between these two sides, on February 13, 2026, ended in a major upset. Rennes walked away with all three points, winning 3-1 right in the heart of PSG's own reign. It's not a result that guarantees anything for Sunday, but it's a reminder that the red and blacks know how to hurt PSG when they find the right game plan.

How both teams arrive

PSG comes off an emotionally and competitively demanding August. First, the club lifted the UEFA Super Cup after beating Aston Villa, a title that confirms the strong collective level of Luis Enrique's team. But last Sunday brought the other side of the coin: a loss to Lens in the Trophee des Champions. Two finals in a short span, one title won and one final lost, that's how the Parisian squad heads into its first official Ligue 1 fixture.

Rennes, for its part, had a strong previous season that secured qualification for an international competition, so the club isn't arriving out of nowhere. Still, the immediate buildup wasn't ideal: they fell 2-1 to Sunderland in a preseason friendly. Now they open the season with a brutal road trip, but the red and black squad says it will go out to compete with the conviction of bringing something good back from Paris.

Names to watch closely

PSG lines up with Matvey Safonov between the posts and a defense with South American weight in Marquinhos and Ecuadorian Willian Pacho. In midfield, Vitinha remains the engine of the team alongside Fabian Ruiz, while Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi provide width from the flanks. Up top, the roster is downright scary: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Ferran Torres round out a top tier attack.

Rennes counters with Brice Samba in goal, Quentin Merlin and Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal in defense, Valentin Rongier running the midfield, and an attacking trio that includes Ecuadorian Elias Legendre, Mousa Altamari and their top scoring threat, Esteban Lepaul.

Where to watch

PSG vs. Rennes kicks off this Sunday, August 23, and will be streamed live via the Disney+ Premium plan throughout South America. Kickoff times are 3:45 p.m. (Argentina and Uruguay), 2:45 p.m. (Chile) and 1:45 p.m. (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador).