Paris Saint-Germain’s request to postpone their Ligue 1 title clash between the two Champions League quarter-finals against Liverpool has been granted.
The LFP, the board in charge of France’s major football leagues, has granted PSG’s request to postpone their clash with RC Lens, which was due to be held on April 11.
PSG will therefore have a full week to prepare between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
The first leg will take place in Paris on Wednesday, April 8 before the deciding leg at Anfield on Tuesday, April 14.
Liverpool will have no such luxury as they host Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday, April 11.
Champions League Quarter-Final: Fixture Comparison
| Period | Liverpool | Paris Saint-Germain |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-First Leg |
Man City (A) – FA Cup QF
Sat, April 4 (12.45pm) |
Toulouse (H) – Ligue 1
Fri, April 3 (7.45pm) |
| CL Leg 1 |
PSG vs. LIVERPOOL – Parc des Princes
Wed, April 8 (8pm) |
|
| Between Legs |
Fulham (H) – Premier League
Sat, April 11 (5.30pm) |
POSTPONED
vs. Lens (Originally April 11) |
| CL Leg 2 |
LIVERPOOL vs. PSG – Anfield
Tue, April 14 (8pm) |
|
| Post-Second Leg |
Everton (A) – Premier League
Sun, April 19 (2pm) |
Lyon (H) – Ligue 1
Sun, April 19 (7.45pm) |
* Note: PSG will have 6 full days of rest between legs, while Liverpool must navigate a high-stakes league match 72 hours before the decider.
It is a controversial decision from the LFP, who granted a similar request from Chelsea‘s sister-club Strasbourg to postpone their trip to Brest in order to focus on their Conference League quarter-finals against Mainz.
And it will only increase scrutiny in France over the integrity of their domestic leagues, with RC Lens releasing a furious statement last week.
Lens are in direct competition with PSG for the Ligue 1 title this season, sitting a point behind the reigning champions having played a game more.
Their statement, shared on X on Monday, argued: “It would be understood that the 10th budget in the championship should adapt to the demands of the most powerful, in the name of interests that, evidently, now extend beyond the domestic framework.
“Beyond this particular case, the question raised is more fundamental: that of the respect due to the competition itself.
“For it is permissible to wonder when, on its own soil, the championship sometimes seems relegated behind other ambitions, however legitimate they may be.”
Lens now face a lengthy gap without a game – as they are not competing in Europe this season – before a relentless schedule of “chaining matches every three days” in the final weeks of the campaign.
This is not the first time PSG have been successful in postponing domestic fixtures to boost their chances in the Champions League.
The LFP agreed a similar change to the Ligue 1 schedule earlier this month to allow PSG further rest between their Champions League last-16 clashes with Chelsea.
Last season their meeting with Nantes was postponed between the Champions League quarter-finals with Aston Villa.
PSG’s favourable treatment not only calls into question the integrity of Ligue 1 but also that of the Champions League, as Luis Enrique’s side are current holders.