It’s back. This weekend, Ligue 1 makes its big return. And the first opponents for Les Rouge et Bleu are none other than Rennes, who head into the new season with ambition. After a successful 2025–26 campaign that saw them finish sixth in the league, the Breton capital is set to see a return of European football after a two-year absence. During their summer preparations, the Rouge et Noir beat Club Brugge 2–1 and held Galatasaray to a 3–3 draw, before losing to two Premier League sides (4–2 against Brentford and 2–1 at Sunderland).
Although Paris Saint-Germain only played two friendly matches, Luis Enrique’s side have already had a demanding return to competitive action. First came the UEFA Super Cup, where they secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Aston Villa, before suffering a narrow 1–0 defeat to Lens in the Trophée des Champions. There is little doubt that the club from the capital will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to Ille-et-Vilaine and get their Ligue 1 campaign off to the best possible start.
2 – Stade Rennais FC (8) and Paris Saint-Germain (7) are the two teams that conceded the least amount of goals from set-pieces in Ligue 1 during the 2025-2026 season.
9 – The club from the capital has won 9 of its last 11 Ligue 1 opening matches (1 draw, 1 defeat), while the Rouge et Noir have won their last 3.
13 – Adrien Thomasson could play his first Ligue 1 match with Rennes. He will be playing in his 13th consecutive top flight campaign. Only Marquinhos (Paris, 14), Anthony Lopes (Angers, 15) and Benjamin André (Lille, 16) have better current records.
In goal for SRFC, Franck Haise will almost certainly rely on Brice Samba. The France international is a key figure in the Breton starting XI, and he is expected to be protected in front of him by promising 20-year-old Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal. The Moroccan continues to develop and should line up alongside Rennes’ headline signing of the transfer window: Charlie Cresswell. Should the French coach opt to change his plans and switch to a three-man central defence, Anthony Rouault could be preferred to Lilian Brassier, Alidu Seidu or Gonçalo Oliveira.
At right-back, Poland international Przemyslaw Frankowski is expected to start despite the signing of Bryan Reynolds. On the opposite side of the defence, however, Mahamadou Nagida now appears ready to challenge for a starting spot. The Cameroon international is competing with former Marseille man Quentin Merlin, who could see his playing time reduced this season. In midfield, the hierarchy is already beginning to take shape, with Valentin Rongier anchoring the midfield. The Breton side’s captain is expected to be joined by Adrien Thomasson, who was the league’s top assist provider last season with Lens, and Sebastian Szymanski.
The Poland international has established himself in Rennes’ starting XI and therefore has a head start over Mahdi Camara. With both Seko Fofana and Djaoui Cissé expected to leave the club, they remain part of the Breton squad for now, although it seems unlikely that either will take to the pitch at Roazhon Park on Sunday. As for Ludovic Blas, the Rouge et Noir’s No. 10 is competing for a starting spot on the right wing, alongside the dynamic Mousa Al-Tamari. The two offer very different profiles, and the Rennes coaching staff will have to choose between them.
On the left side of the attack, SRFC are expected to look to Issa Soumaré, who joined on a free transfer this summer from Le Havre. Competing with Arnaud Nordin, the Senegalese forward is the favourite to start against Paris. Finally, Estéban Lepaul is expected to lead the line. The league’s top scorer last season, the former Angers striker will be one of the players to watch, as he is expected to be preferred to 21-year-old Eliezer Mayenda, as well as Switzerland international Breel Embolo, who is set to leave the club.
