Title race takes new twist as PSG push for match reschedule amid Liverpool UCL clash

Paris Saint-Germain have formally requested the postponement of their crucial Ligue 1 fixture against title rivals Lens, citing scheduling pressures around their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool, Sport360NG reports. 

The French champions are due to face Lens on Saturday, April 11, in a high-stakes top-of-the-table clash. However, the match falls between the two legs of their European tie, just three days after hosting Liverpool in Paris and three days before the return leg at Anfield.

Lens, currently second in the standings and just one point behind PSG, have strongly opposed the request. In an official statement, the club criticised what it described as a growing tendency to prioritise European commitments over domestic competitions.

The northern French side warned that Ligue 1 risks being treated as secondary, expressing concern over what they termed a “troubling sentiment” if the fixture is rescheduled.

“Beyond this specific situation, the issue raises a broader concern regarding the respect owed to the league,” the statement read. “There is a growing perception that domestic competition is being overshadowed by other ambitions, however legitimate they may be.”

Lens head coach Pierre Sage also voiced his disapproval following his side’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Angers on Sunday, reiterating the club’s stance against any postponement.

PSG previously benefited from a similar arrangement during their Champions League round against Chelsea, when their domestic fixture against Nantes was moved, allowing Luis Enrique’s side to focus on Europe. They went on to secure an 8-2 aggregate victory.

The final decision now rests with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), which has indicated a willingness to support French clubs competing in European tournaments.

Meanwhile, Strasbourg have also submitted a request to reschedule their Ligue 1 trip to Brest on the same weekend, as it falls between their UEFA Europa Conference League ties against Mainz.

PSG have yet to publicly respond to the ongoing developments.