Just as they did for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, the LFP have adjusted the Ligue 1 calendar in order to improve French sides’ chances of progression in their respective competitions.
Last weekend’s matches between Paris Saint-Germain and Lorient, Olympique de Marseille and OGC Nice, and Lille OSC and AS Monaco, were postponed in order to give PSG, Marseille and Lille a break ahead of their second-legs. Les Parisiens and Les Phocéens progressed in their respective ties. PSG advance to the semi-final of the Champions League after beating Barcelona in Spain, whilst like their Ligue 1 rivals, OM overcame a one-goal deficit in the second leg of their Europa League tie, beating Benfica on penalties. Lille were knocked out on penalties by Aston Villa.
The LFP failed to straddle two camps through their initiative so bolster Ligue 1 side’s chances of European progression. The grievances of ‘smaller’ clubs are in part driven by self-interest but they aren’t illegitimate.
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The controversial LFP initiative, which notably infuriated Le Havre AC, whilst also drawing criticism from other Ligue 1 rivals and pundits, was relatively positively appraised after two French sides overturned one-goal deficits. There will now be a repeat in the semi-finals.
The LFP have confirmed that PSG’s match against Nice, scheduled to take place on the weekend of the 4th/5th May has been postponed until 15th May; Marseille’s match against Stade de Reims, set to
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