Pitch nightmare complete! PSG lose their home opener just days before kick-off
The champions of France and Europe will start their title defence away from home in the most bizarre circumstances.
Details: The French league (LFP) has confirmed that PSG's opening Ligue 1 match against Rennes has been moved from the Parc des Princes to Roazhon Park due to a severe fungal infection and heat damage on the pitch. The current state of the turf does not allow player safety to be guaranteed, although the date and time of the match remain unchanged.
Successive heatwaves in the Paris region this summer sharply accelerated the deterioration of the pitch, and despite the groundskeeping staff's efforts the problem could not be solved in time. PSG asked the league to reverse the fixture rather than postpone it, so the champions will now host Rennes on the weekend of March 6, when the return game was originally scheduled. The club also confirmed that the Parc des Princes turf will be completely replaced before the home match against Monaco on September 4.
To make life even harder for the champions, Nuno Mendes will miss the trip to Brittany: the Portuguese left-back has been handed a three-match suspension for his red card in the Trophée des Champions defeat to Lens and will also sit out the games against Lille and Monaco. It's worth noting that PSG enter the new campaign as five-time reigning champions of France and two-time reigning champions of Europe.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
