Paris Saint-Germain's Ligue 1 fixture against Nantes has been rescheduled to provide the European champions with extra rest before their Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea. The game, originally set for the weekend of 13-15 March, will now take place in the week starting 20 April. This adjustment leaves PSG with five days between the two legs against Chelsea, while the Blues face Newcastle in the Premier League on 14 March.
Paris Saint-Germain will benefit from a five-day break between the legs of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea after the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) granted their request to postpone a domestic match. The European champions, who won the competition last season, were scheduled to host struggling Nantes on the weekend of 13-15 March, sandwiched between the first leg against Chelsea on 11 March at Parc des Princes and the return on 17 March at Stamford Bridge.
The LFP announced the decision on 28 February 2026, stating: "At the request of Paris St-Germain, in order to best prepare for their two-legged tie against Chelsea, the LFP board of directors, in agreement with Nantes, have decided the Paris St-Germain-Nantes match will be played the week of April 20. The exact date and time of the match will be determined later."
This is not the first such accommodation for PSG. Last season, a similar postponement occurred before their Champions League quarter-final against Aston Villa, aiding their path to the title. French clubs have a history of adjusting schedules to support European campaigns, with Lyon and Lille potentially receiving similar treatment in the Europa League.
Chelsea, managed by Liam Rosenior, must balance their Premier League commitments, hosting Newcastle on 14 March (17:30 GMT), just three days before PSG's visit to Stamford Bridge. The Blues finished sixth in the Champions League league phase for automatic qualification, while PSG advanced via playoffs, defeating Monaco 5-4 on aggregate.
The tie revives memories of Chelsea's 3-0 victory over PSG in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final. Chelsea director of football David Barnard expressed confidence, saying: "PSG, we've played them quite a few times. They are the reigning champions but people will probably refer to what happened in the summer at the Club World Cup. It'll be tough but it holds no fear for us."
PSG manager Luis Enrique downplayed revenge motives: "As always, I'm very happy with our draw. It will be fascinating to play against Chelsea, one of the best teams in England. We know them well, but there won't be any feeling of revenge because this is a different competition." The postponement gives PSG a scheduling edge, though Chelsea remain optimistic despite the fixture congestion.
