PSG forced to switch Ligue 1 opener against Rennes due to damaged pitch

Paris Saint-Germain have been forced to relocate their Ligue 1 season opener to Rennes after successive, extreme summer heatwaves left the Parc des Princes pitch in a severely damaged state.

The decision to invert the home and away fixtures was officially ratified by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) following a pitch inspection on Wednesday, August 19. Despite the stadium successfully hosting a pre-season friendly against Manchester United just a fortnight earlier, the prolonged heat significantly accelerated the surface's deterioration.

The current conditions did not allow the match to be played under satisfactory conditions, particularly with regard to the safety and physical integrity of the players, which remain the absolute priority. PSG

The club confirmed that the hazard posed to players made the home fixture untenable. PSG now face a critical race against time to complete a full pitch relay at the Parc des Princes ahead of their next scheduled home match against AS Monaco on September 4.

Luis Enrique's side must now begin their domestic title defence with an unexpected trip to Roazhon Park on Sunday, August 23. The squad will need to maintain focus to secure maximum points despite the sudden logistical disruption to their start of the campaign.