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Paris Saint-Germain have formally asked to reschedule their crucial Ligue 1 away match against title rivals RC Lens, originally set for April 11 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. The fixture falls directly between the two legs of PSG's Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, with the first leg at home on April 8 and the return at Anfield on April 14, prompting the French champions to seek extra recovery time for their squad.
RC Lens opposes PSG’s request to postpone Ligue 1 fixture alling between UCL clash vs Liverpool
Lens, sitting just one point behind PSG in the tight Ligue 1 title race, has strongly opposed the move in a fiery statement, questioning whether the domestic competition is being properly respected. The club, in an official statement, wrote:
"It appears that a worrying trend is taking shape: that the French league is being relegated to a mere variable that can be adjusted to the European demands of certain clubs.”
The statement further read:
“This is unsportsmanlike and it's difficult to find an equivalent idea in the other major European leagues."
The club argued that shifting the date would disrupt their own schedule, potentially leaving them with a lengthy period of inactivity followed by a congested run of fixtures, and accused the proposal of undermining sporting fairness to accommodate "the European ambitions of certain parties."
Lens coach Pierre Sage had earlier signaled his team's unwillingness to adjust for PSG's European commitments. Meanwhile, during the Last 16 phase in the UCL, the French club’s game against Nantes was postponed before they faced Chelsea, allowing the squad extra rest between their two last-16 legs.
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