Rennes host Paris Saint-Germain as 2026-27 Ligue 1 campaign begins

Paris Saint-Germain begin their 2026-27 season against Stade Rennais at Roazhon Park on Sunday, 23 August, with the reigning Ligue 1 champions facing a potentially difficult opening fixture away from home.

The match will kick off at 18:45 GMT in Rennes and is one of the weekend’s most anticipated fixtures.

In France, the game will be shown on Ligue 1+. Viewers in the United States and Canada can watch on beIN SPORTS, while Canal+ Sport will broadcast the match in sub-Saharan Africa. beIN SPORTS is also the listed broadcaster for the Middle East and North Africa.

PSG have the stronger historical record in this fixture. Since the clubs first met in 1971, Paris Saint-Germain have won 45 times, compared with 24 victories for Stade Rennais, while 18 meetings have ended in draws.

The Paris club had won the four encounters immediately before their most recent meeting. That run ended in February 2026, when Rennes claimed a 3-1 victory over PSG.

Rennes enter the new campaign after an uneven pre-season. They recorded two wins, one draw and three defeats, including a 2-1 loss to Sunderland on 15 August.

PSG also suffered a pre-season defeat, losing 3-0 to Mallorca, before drawing 1-1 with Manchester United. They did, however, finish their preparations by beating Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup.

Despite Rennes’ home advantage and their success in the previous meeting, PSG are considered favourites to take three points. Their squad is viewed as deeper, while their attacking options are regarded as superior to those of their opponents.

The champions are nevertheless expected to approach the match with discipline and efficiency. Rennes could create significant problems at Roazhon Park, particularly after their 3-1 win in the last contest between the sides.

Africafoot’s prediction is a 2-1 victory for PSG.

The match is also being covered by betting company 1xBet, which lists Stade Rennais at odds of 5.60 to win. A draw is priced at 4.90, while PSG are offered at 1.52.

The fixture represents the opening league match of the season for both teams, with PSG beginning their defence of the French title and Rennes hoping to make the most of home advantage against the reigning champions.