Adam Mouak, 17, joins PSG squad for Champions League clash against Slovan Bratislava

PSG open their Champions League campaign on Wednesday at Parc des Princes against Slovan Bratislava (21:00), and Luis Enrique has sprung a small surprise in his squad: Adam Mouak, a 17-year-old Moroccan goalkeeper normally with the club’s U19s, features in the list at the expense of Alessandro Longoni, recruited this summer to fill the third goalkeeper role.

Mouak thus joins Matvey Safonov and Lucas Chevalier in the goalkeeper hierarchy called up for this opening day of the league phase. The other notable change is the return of Lucas Digne, left out of the squad for the home defeat to Monaco (1-2) in Ligue 1 last Friday.

The context is delicate for Paris. Four consecutive matches without a win across all competitions — including two draws against Lille and Lens before the defeat to AS Monaco — have tarnished the start of the season for the defending Ligue 1 champions. The Champions League therefore arrives at a timely moment to get the machine running again, with Luis Enrique having publicly expressed his confidence in his team’s ability to retain the Ligue 1 title.

PSG also have a specific European objective in mind: avoiding the play-offs for the round of 16, an ordeal that cost them serious anxiety last season against these same Monégasques. Slovan Bratislava, managed by Yaya Touré, constitute on paper an approachable opposition to get the counter running.