- PSG will start their Ligue 1 title defence away to Rennes at Roazhon Park on Sunday after the Parc des Princes pitch was ruled unsuitable
- The LFP said Wednesday that the fixture’s date and time have not changed, while PSG will now host Rennes on the weekend of March 6
- Nuno Mendes was given a three-match suspension after his red card in PSG’s Champions Trophy loss to Lens at the weekend
PSG Opener Switched After Parc Des Princes Pitch Concerns
Paris Saint-Germain’s first Ligue 1 match of their title defence has been moved from the Parc des Princes to Rennes’ Roazhon Park because of the condition of the pitch in Paris, the French league (LFP) said Wednesday.
PSG had been scheduled to host Franck Haise’s Rennes on Sunday, but the match has been inverted, with Les Bretons now staging the fixture against Luis Enrique’s back-to-back UEFA Champions League winners. The date and kick-off time have not been altered.
The LFP explained its decision in a statement, saying: “The current state of the pitch does not allow for player safety to be guaranteed,”
PSG confirmed that “the latest heatwave after successive, exceptional hot spells in the Paris region this summer has sharply accelerated the deterioration of the Parc des Princes pitch, which is now severely damaged”.
Talks And The Final Fixture Solution
High-level discussions had taken place yesterday between PSG, Rennes and Ligue 1’s governing body because of the state of the Parc des Princes surface. The pitch had been deemed unplayable due to a fungal infection.
Following the switch, PSG are now set to host Rennes on the weekend of March 6.
| Fixture detail | Original arrangement | Updated arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Match | PSG v Rennes | Rennes v PSG |
| Venue | Parc des Princes | Roazhon Park |
| Reverse fixture | Rennes were due to visit PSG | PSG will host Rennes on the weekend of March 6 |
Parc Des Princes Replacement Planned Before Monaco Match
PSG said the damaged Parc des Princes pitch will be replaced before their home game against Monaco on September 4.
The venue issue comes at the start of a demanding early-season schedule for the capital club, who have already played two matches away from home – the Champions Trophy and the UEFA Super Cup. In the UEFA Super Cup, PSG beat Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg, Austria.
Nuno Mendes Suspended After Champions Trophy Red Card
PSG will also be without left-back Nuno Mendes after he received a three-match suspension for his red card in the Champions Trophy loss to Lens at the weekend.
The Portugal international was dismissed in the 87th minute for elbowing Lens’ Michal Skoras. He will also miss PSG’s Ligue 1 matches against Lille and Monaco.
Luis Enrique could turn to Lucas Digne as a replacement following the France left-back’s recent arrival from Aston Villa.
PSG’s Upcoming Ligue 1 Schedule
After the relocated Rennes fixture, PSG will play away at Lille on August 28 before their scheduled home match against Monaco on September 4, by which point the Parc des Princes pitch is expected to have been replaced.
