PSG handed rest advantage as Ligue 1 postpones Nantes clash ahead of Chelsea showdown | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a scheduling boost ahead of their Champions League showdown with Chelsea after Ligue 1 agreed to postpone their domestic fixture against Nantes.

PSG were originally due to host Nantes on the weekend of March 14-15. That match fell between the two legs of their Champions League last-16 tie with Chelsea.

The first leg is set to take place in Paris on March 11, with the return leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17.

Following a request from PSG, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed the Nantes fixture has been rescheduled for the week commencing April 20. The decision was taken with Nantes’ agreement.

In a statement, the LFP said the move was designed to allow PSG ‘to prepare in the best possible conditions’ for their European assignment.

PSG will now benefit from five full days between the two legs of the tie. That uninterrupted preparation period includes recovery time and travel ahead of the visit to London.

By contrast, Chelsea face a tighter schedule. The Blues host Newcastle United in the Premier League on March 14, just three days before PSG visit Stamford Bridge.

That means Chelsea will play three matches in seven days, with limited rest either side of their domestic fixture.

PSG’s progression to the last 16 followed a dramatic aggregate victory over Monaco.

They trailed in the second leg before a red card shifted momentum, with Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scoring in quick succession to seal qualification.

The French champions are seeking to defend their European crown and will now approach the Chelsea tie with a clearer calendar.

This is not the first time PSG have had a domestic fixture moved to accommodate a Champions League clash.

A similar decision was made last season during their run to the latter stages of the competition.

With the domestic schedule adjusted, manager Luis Enrique can focus fully on preparing his squad for one of the standout ties of the round.

The rescheduling underlines the significance of the Champions League campaign for PSG as they aim to balance domestic dominance with continental ambition.