For long spells, this looked like the kind of away game that can disturb a champion early in the season.
Rennes went 2-0 up before the break and punished PSG in transition. That mattered because the visitors still created openings, but wasteful finishing left them exposed. When a side with this much attacking talent falls behind despite seeing plenty of the ball, the discussion quickly turns to balance rather than flair.
That is the first issue for PSG. They still have high-end forwards and enough control in midfield to pin teams back, but the draw underlined how quickly matches can tilt if the structure is loose and the final action is missing.
The game turned when Torres came on at half-time.
His impact was immediate and decisive:
Just as important was the contribution of Fabian Ruiz, who supplied both assists. PSG suddenly had cleaner combinations, quicker decisions and a penalty-box presence that had been absent before the interval. For a new signing on his league debut, Torres could hardly have made a louder statement.
One result does not define a title defence, but the context matters. PSG were already coming off a 1-0 defeat to Lens in the Champions’ Trophy, so a second straight stumble would have intensified the noise. Instead, the comeback offers a different talking point: depth.
Luis Enrique now has an early reminder that reputation alone will not win matches, and an early hint that Torres may force his way into a bigger role sooner than expected.
PSG leave Rennes with a point, a problem to solve and a new option to watch. The next league fixtures should reveal whether this was simply a sluggish opening night - or the first sign that their title defence will demand more reinvention than expected.