Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a massive boost ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 clash against Chelsea after French football authorities granted them a completely free weekend to prepare.
The reigning Ligue 1 champions were drawn against Chelsea in the last 16, with the first leg scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at the Parc des Princes and the return fixture at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, March 17.
Both clubs originally faced domestic league commitments in between the two European legs. Chelsea were due to host Newcastle United on Saturday, March 14, while PSG were set to welcome struggling Nantes on the same weekend.
However, in a controversial move, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and Nantes have agreed to postpone the PSG-Nantes fixture until the week of April 20.
In an official statement, the LFP confirmed: “At the request of Paris Saint-Germain, in order to best prepare for their two-legged tie against Chelsea, the LFP board of directors, in agreement with Nantes, have decided the Paris Saint-Germain-Nantes match will be played the week of April 20. The exact date and time of the match will be determined later.”
Embed X: https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/2027487395721945279/photo/1
The decision leaves PSG with a full week to rest and focus exclusively on the Chelsea tie, while Chelsea must juggle their Champions League ambitions with a crucial Premier League fixture against a dangerous Newcastle side just days before the second leg.
Chelsea are locked in a fierce battle for a top-five finish in the Premier League and can ill afford to rotate heavily or take their eye off domestic matters. The extra recovery time and preparation for PSG could prove decisive in what was already expected to be a tightly contested tie.
While many will view this as a blatantly unfair advantage for the French side, reports from RMC Sport suggest it is simply part of a collective strategy by French clubs to support their representatives in European competitions. Lyon and/or Lille could reportedly receive similar treatment should they progress further in the Europa League.
For Chelsea fans, however, the news feels like a disaster in London. With no such luxury afforded to English clubs, the Blues now head into one of the biggest nights of their season at a clear disadvantage — all because French football has closed ranks to protect PSG.