Champions League: PSG match v Nantes postponed to give longer break between Chelsea ties

Paris St-Germain will have five days off between the two legs of their Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea after their request to postpone a Ligue 1 match was granted.

The European champions were due to face struggling Nantes on the weekend of 13-15 March, either side of their legs against Chelsea on Wednesday, 11 March and Tuesday, 17 March, but that game has been moved to the week starting 20 April.

Chelsea host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday, 14 March (17:30 GMT) – three days before Luis Enrique’s PSG visit Stamford Bridge.

“At the request of Paris St-Germain, in order to best prepare for their two-legged tie against Chelsea, the LFP [Ligue de Football Professionnel] board of directors, in agreement with Nantes, have decided the Paris St-Germain-Nantes match will be played the week of April 20,” a Ligue 1 statement read.

“The exact date and time of the match will be determined later.”

PSG also had a Ligue 1 game against Nantes delayed last season, with the tie initially falling between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final victory over Aston Villa.

Chelsea beat PSG 3-0 in last year’s Fifa Club World Cup final.