Ferran Torres faces defining test as Paris Saint-Germain goals dry up

Ferran Torres has gone from one of Paris Saint-Germain’s most impressive early-season performers to a forward searching for answers after failing to score in the club’s past five matches.

The Spanish striker’s rapid start in Paris had suggested he would become a key figure for the French side, but his recent performances have raised questions over whether he can rediscover the form that made him one of the standout players in the opening weeks of the campaign.

According to French outlet Foot Mercato, the honeymoon period between Torres and Paris Saint-Germain is now over. The 48.5m-euro signing has struggled to maintain his early momentum and is facing a significant test to justify the status he earned after moving to the French capital.

Torres enjoyed an exceptional summer before joining the club. He won the World Cup with Spain and scored the winning goal in the final against Argentina, a 1-0 victory after extra time. He then completed his move to Paris Saint-Germain for 48.5m euros.

His impact was immediate. Torres scored twice on his debut against Rennes in a 2-2 draw, helping his new team avoid defeat. He also found the net against Brest and Marseille before the international break, while a hat-trick against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League further strengthened the view that he had made an outstanding start to life in France.

His performances were also praised inside the Paris Saint-Germain dressing room. Ousmane Dembele, who played briefly with Torres at Barcelona, said: “I was lucky enough to play with him a little at Barcelona. He is a genuine goalscorer and a proper striker who can also play on the wing. It is a pleasure to play with him. He has excellent movement and it is easy to find him on the pitch. We talk a lot and playing alongside him is very smooth.”

Vitinha was similarly impressed, saying: “I hope he continues in this way because he is performing exceptionally well. We all need to do our very best to reach the same level of effectiveness. We are very happy to have him with us.”

However, Torres’ form has declined since the latest international break. He delivered a disappointing display against England before returning to Paris for treatment on pain in his left ankle.

Since then, he has failed to reproduce his earlier performances. He was left on the bench for two important matches against Manchester City and Barcelona, and only started against Barcelona after Dembele suffered an injury. Torres played 70 minutes but failed to make the expected impact and received a rating of 4 out of 10 from Foot Mercato.

His display against Olympique Lyonnais on Monday was only marginally better. He looked inconsistent, lacked sharpness in front of goal and was rated 5 out of 10 before being replaced by Senny Mayulu, whose introduction changed the game and helped him score the decisive goal.

Torres also missed four chances against Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif, another sign that his attacking threat has diminished.

Paris Saint-Germain are not yet seriously concerned, but a prolonged scoring drought would increase pressure on Torres, particularly with strong competition for attacking places. Friday’s match against Le Havre, who are bottom of the Ligue 1 table, offers him a clear opportunity to end the wait for a goal and restore his confidence.