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PSG seek delay for Lens match ahead of Liverpool quarter-final
Paris St-Germain have formally asked France's Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) to reschedule their Ligue 1 fixture against Lens, citing fixture congestion around their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
Fixture congestion sparks debate
PSG are due to face Lens in a high-stakes league match on Saturday, 11 April-three days after hosting Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and three days before the return leg at Anfield. Liverpool, meanwhile, are set to play Fulham in the Premier League on the same day.
Lens, who trail PSG by a single point in the Ligue 1 title race, have strongly opposed the request. In a statement, the club criticized the potential postponement as part of a broader trend where domestic competitions are treated as secondary to European ambitions.
"Beyond this specific case, the question raised is a more fundamental one: that of the respect due to the competition itself. For one is entitled to wonder when, on its own soil, the league sometimes seems to be relegated to second place behind other ambitions, however legitimate they may be."
Lens club statement
PSG defend request, cite past precedent
A PSG spokesperson told BBC Sport that such rescheduling has been common practice in French football, arguing it does not undermine the league's integrity. They added that strong performances by French clubs in European competitions benefit the entire domestic game, noting France's current sixth-place ranking in UEFA's coefficient standings for the 2025-26 season.
Lens head coach Pierre Sage reinforced his club's opposition after their 5-1 victory over Angers on Sunday, stating his side did not support the postponement.
LFP holds decision-making power
The final decision rests with the LFP, which has historically accommodated similar requests from French clubs competing in European competitions. The governing body confirmed that Strasbourg have also asked to postpone their Ligue 1 match at Brest, sandwiched between their Conference League ties against Mainz.
PSG previously benefited from a similar arrangement during their Champions League tie against Chelsea, when their league match against Nantes was postponed. The Parisians went on to win the tie 8-2 on aggregate.
Broader implications for French football
The dispute highlights tensions between domestic and European priorities, with Lens framing the issue as a matter of principle for league integrity. The LFP's response could set a precedent for how French clubs balance their commitments in the future.
