Ferran Torres Fires PSG Past Brest with Early Ligue 1 Winner

Paris Saint-Germain returned to winning ways in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with Ferran Torres deciding the match inside five minutes before Brest were kept out by a series of important Matvey Safonov saves.

Key takeaways

• Torres scored his sixth goal in five PSG appearances after combining with João Neves and Ousmane Dembélé.
• Achraf Hakimi was substituted after 38 minutes with a muscle problem, with Fabián Ruiz sent on in his place.
• Brest hit the post through Kamory Doumbia and were denied late on by Safonov against Pathé Mboup.
• A Bradley Locko own goal was disallowed because of a Warren Zaïre-Emery foul.
• PSG’s next league fixture is against Marseille, immediately before the international break.

Torres and Dembélé provide the early breakthrough

PSG made the fast start they needed as Torres finished a swift move involving Neves and Dembélé. The Spanish forward got on the end of the exchange of passes and guided a low effort beyond the goalkeeper.

The goal continued an outstanding beginning to Torres’s PSG career, taking him to six strikes from his opening five outings for the club. Luis Enrique highlighted the understanding developing between his striker and Dembélé, saying he had been particularly pleased by their connection.

Dembélé knows Torres well from their time together at Barcelona, where they spent a season and a half as team-mates. He described the 25-year-old as an excellent player and a top-class centre-forward, adding that Torres is consistently available in the penalty area when required.

The French international also reflected on the work behind his own career progress. Dembélé said he had never considered himself a naturally selected star and had instead needed to work relentlessly, with that effort bringing rewards last season. He said he remains calm about the current campaign and has kept the same approach throughout his career: working quietly rather than making public claims.

Safonov preserves the points as Marseille approach

Despite the result, Enrique felt PSG must become more commanding without possession. He accepted the value of the three points but said Brest had created difficulties during periods when PSG did not have the ball, and called for his side to show greater authority.

The visitors had opportunities to level after the interval. Doumbia struck the woodwork before seeing a forceful header stopped by Safonov. PSG thought they had extended their lead when Locko turned the ball into his own net, but the effort was cancelled after a foul by Zaïre-Emery.

Safonov’s most significant contribution came in the 88th minute, when he prevented Mboup from finding the equaliser. His intervention secured a valuable victory as PSG look to move higher in the Ligue 1 standings.

There is now an injury concern over Hakimi following his first-half exit, while Enrique will also seek a stronger defensive performance before PSG meet Marseille in the league ahead of the international break.