Paris Saint-Germain go to war with Ligue 1 rivals as French giants look to reschedule fixture in a bid to gain the upper hand ahead of Champions League showdown against Liverpool
Paris Saint-Germain have been in talks with Lens over the postponement of their Ligue 1 match in a bid to be better prepared for their Champions League fixtures with Liverpool.
The Champions League holders will take on the Reds in the quarter-finals of the competition next month, with the first leg scheduled for April 8 in the French capital.
Anfield will then host the return leg six days later on April 14, but Luis Enrique’s side have been trying to get the game against Lens – scheduled for April 11 – put on hold.
According to RMC Sport, though, Lens will reject the approach, leaving it up to the Ligue de Football Professionnel – essentially the French FA – to decide.
Lens are said to have been open to the idea if it ‘made sense’ to them, but it appears that’s not the case. A final decision is expected on Thursday.
On paper, the league clash would be a big one, with PSG top of Ligue 1 and Lens second. There is just one point between the two sides in the league table, with Lens having played a game more.
PSG are in a battle with Lens over moving their Ligue 1 match ahead of their Champions League clash with Liverpool
It is reported that PSG have proposed moving the game to May, but that Lens are against the idea because they would have no match for two weeks and then three in a week if it were to be moved.
Lens manager Pierre Sage said after his side’s 5-1 win over Angers at the weekend: ‘We, fundamentally, don’t agree. From the top of the pyramid, we don’t agree.
‘I understand that having more rest allows for better performance. They confirmed that in their match against Chelsea. They are a very successful club in several competitions. They also understand the constraints.’
PSG had their game against Nantes postponed last week before they faced Chelsea, allowing the squad extra rest between their two last-16 legs. PSG went on to win the tie 8-2 on aggregate.
It’s not an uncommon occurrence, with Strasbourg, who are owned by the same group as Chelsea, requesting their game against Brest on April 12 to be postponed. The match is set to take place between their Europa Conference League quarter-final games against Mainz.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are booked to host Fulham between the two games on April 11.
