Ligue 1 switches calendar to bolster French teams’ European chances

Ligue 1 may have done a massive favor to the three French clubs still involved in European competitions. After the international break, Paris Saint-Germain will face Barcelona for a mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final. On Thursdays, Marseille will lock horns with Portuguese giants SL Benfica in the Europa League and Lille will take on Premier League side Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League.

Unlike the RO16 stage of those three European tournaments, the quarter-finals’ first and second legs will be played a week apart. Now head coach of Les Parisiens, Luis Enrique will host his former Barça team at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, April 10 before heading back to Catalunya for the second leg on Tuesday, April 16. The Europa League and Europa Conference League quarter-final ties will be held on Thursdays, April 11 and 18.

In taking Ligue 1’s game-week 29 during the weekend into account, PSG, Marseille, and Lille were therefore facing the prospect of playing three competitive and potentially season-defining games in a week. But the Ligue de Football Professionnel have stepped in and officially postponed the three sides’ Ligue 1 encounters to April 24th, giving them a weekend off to better prepare for their European encounters. “The progress of French clubs in European Cups is an absolute priority“, the LFP said in their statement. “All points scored are fundamental for France’s UEFA ranking. Football constitutes a national flagship and, through the performances of clubs at European level, allows France to shine internationally.“

The opponents of the French clubs – Barcelona, SL Benfica and Aston Villa – are so far all scheduled to play in their respective championships during the weekend between the first