Ferran Torres included in Paris Saint-Germain squad for Rennes match

Ferran Torres and Mika Godts have been named in the Paris Saint-Germain squad for Sunday’s Ligue 1 meeting with Stade Rennais, while Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye have been left out.

The match will be played at Roazhon Park, the home of Stade Rennais, rather than Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes. The change of venue follows the deterioration of the pitch at the Paris stadium after the recent heatwave.

Torres and Godts joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer, arriving from Barcelona and Ajax respectively. Their inclusion means both new signings could feature in the team’s upcoming league fixture.

Barcola and Mbaye are absent from the squad, with both players understood to be candidates to leave Paris Saint-Germain before the end of the summer transfer window. The club has therefore selected Torres and Godts, while omitting two players whose futures in Paris remain uncertain.

Paris Saint-Germain explained the decision to move the match earlier this week, saying: “The recent heatwave, which followed a series of exceptional heatwaves that hit the Paris region this summer, significantly accelerated the deterioration of the Parc des Princes pitch.”

The club is now working to replace the surface at its home stadium. Paris Saint-Germain are aiming to have the work completed before their next home fixture, against Monaco in the third round of Ligue 1 on 4 September.

The switch to Roazhon Park means Stade Rennais will host the game at their own ground, while Paris Saint-Germain’s preparations for their next home match will continue away from the Parc des Princes.

Paris Saint-Germain began the season by winning the European Super Cup against English club Aston Villa. They then suffered defeat by Lens in the French Super Cup.

Sunday’s match will therefore be played against the backdrop of a disrupted start to the campaign for the Paris club, with the team having to use an alternative venue while the pitch at the Parc des Princes is replaced.

The availability of Torres and Godts provides Paris Saint-Germain with two new options for the fixture, but the absence of Barcola and Mbaye leaves their immediate futures unresolved. All four players are linked to the club’s summer squad changes, although only Torres and Godts have been included for the meeting with Stade Rennais.