PSG Ligue 1 opener moved to Rennes due to damaged pitch

Paris Saint-Germain's opening Ligue 1 match of the season has been moved from the Parc des Princes to Rennes' Roazhon Park due to the severely damaged condition of the Paris club's pitch. The French Professional Football League (LFP) announced the decision on Wednesday, August 19, following an inspection that concluded the playing surface could not guarantee player safety.

The fixture, originally scheduled for Sunday, August 23, will now see PSG travel to face Rennes, with the venue for the return match inverted. PSG will host Rennes at the Parc des Princes on the weekend of March 6. The date and kickoff time for the initial match remain unchanged.

The LFP stated that "the current state of the pitch does not allow for player safety to be guaranteed." PSG confirmed that successive, exceptional heatwaves in the Paris region this summer have accelerated the deterioration of the surface, which is now severely damaged. The club noted that the latest heatwave has significantly worsened the condition of the pitch, which was already under stress.

High-level discussions took place on August 19 between PSG, Rennes, and the LFP to find a solution. The pitch was deemed unplayable due to a...