Paris Saint-Germain have been granted additional recovery time ahead of their Champions League showdown with Chelsea after Ligue 1 authorities approved the postponement of their domestic fixture against Nantes.
The French champions had faced the prospect of squeezing a league match between both legs of their last-16 tie, but the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has now confirmed the game will be rescheduled for April following a formal request from PSG, a move agreed upon by Nantes.
Luis Enrique’s side will host Chelsea in Paris on March 11 before travelling to Stamford Bridge for the decisive second leg six days later.
The Nantes fixture had originally been scheduled for the same weekend in between those European encounters, with barely any turnaround separating their domestic duties from an important Champions League clash.
With the adjustment approved, PSG will now benefit from good enough spacing between the two matches against the Premier League club, giving Enrique more time between the two matches to prepare his squad physically.
An LFP statement confirmed the decision was taken to allow the Paris side to approach the Champions League tie under the best possible conditions, with the rearranged league match set to take place during the week beginning April 20. The exact date will be announced at a later time.
The decision reflects a similar situation last season, when PSG also saw a domestic fixture moved during their run in Europe as French football authorities attempted to support clubs competing in continental competitions.
Chelsea, meanwhile, will continue with their domestic schedule and are set to face Newcastle United in the Premier League just three days before welcoming PSG to London for the return leg.
Whether the extra breathing space makes a difference remains to be seen once the tie unfolds, but PSG now enter one of the season’s defining weeks with proceedings firmly on their side.
