Ligue 1 Title Match Postponed to Benefit PSG’s Champions League Preparation

Delayed Clash Offers PSG Vital Rest

The Ligue 1 match between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain has been postponed from its original date to provide PSG with better preparation time ahead of their upcoming Champions League quarterfinal matchup against Liverpool.

Initially scheduled for April 11, this match fell inconveniently between PSG’s two legs against Liverpool—one at home just three days before and the second away three days later. The new date for the Lens-PSG fixture will now be May 13, which occurs between the final rounds of the French league.

Title Race Tightens

Currently, Ligue 1 is witnessing an intense title race, with Lens trailing PSG by only one point while having played one match more than their rivals.

In addition to the Lens-PSG match, another game involving Strasbourg versus Brest on April 12 has also been postponed due to its scheduling conflict with Strasbourg’s quarterfinal match in the Conference League against Germany’s Mainz.

League Decision Supported by PSG and Strasbourg

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) revealed that its governing body “unanimously decided” to honor the requests from both PSG and Strasbourg to alter the match schedules. This decision, made without needing the consent of Lens or Brest, was framed as being in the best interests of French football.

The LFP’s statement emphasized, “This approach aligns with strategic objectives set by the board to secure France’s fifth spot in the UEFA coefficient standings, allowing it to retain four slots in the Champions League.”

Lens Discontented with the Change

Lens expressed strong opposition to the postponement, asserting that Ligue 1 was being compromised to bolster the European aspirations of select teams. Despite this, the LFP has previously set a precedent by rescheduling a match for Marseille in light of their Europa League quarterfinal.

Joseph Oughourlian, president of Lens, admitted he had “few illusions” about the outcome prior to the decision being made. Lens director Benjamin Parrot raised concerns regarding whether PSG would have made such a request under different circumstances.

Parrot stated, “Would this same debate take place if PSG had a significant lead? They might just opt to rotate their squad.” He further noted that while the LFP frequently compares itself to leagues in England, Italy, Spain, and Germany, none of those leagues operate in this manner.

Challenging Schedule Ahead for Lens

Lens faces a grueling schedule in the days following the postponement, as they will have three matches in just eight days—against Toulouse in Ligue 1, then in the French Cup semifinals, and finally against Brest on April 24. This last match is set for a Friday, which limits their recovery time.

Despite the challenging calendar, Parrot indicated that Lens would not seek to adjust these match dates. “We’ll accept the series of matches,” he remarked, “though we won’t have the same depth in our squad. It’s not equitable.”

PSG advisor Luis Campos claimed the postponement benefits not only PSG but also French football as a whole. He argued on RMC radio, “We aim to position ourselves optimally to represent France well in Europe, which is essential.”

Campos pointed out the importance of maintaining France’s standing within UEFA’s coefficient rankings, which are crucial for the country’s representation in international competitions. He referenced how England’s coefficient has enabled a record six teams to participate in the Champions League this season, while France’s standing is increasingly threatened by Portugal.

“Other major leagues aren’t facing similar risks,” Campos added.