Chelsea suffer new blow as PSG granted huge Champions League advantage

Chelsea have an almighty Champions League test ahead of them in Paris Saint-Germain, but things have been made harder for Liam Rosenior's side

Paris Saint-Germain's request for a Ligue 1 match to be postponed before their Champions League clash against Chelsea has been accepted. Originally, Luis Enrique's side were scheduled to face Nantes on March 15.

However, they submitted a request for that match to be postponed, with the crucial second-leg at Stamford Bridge to be played on March 17. Meanwhile, on March 14, the Blues host Newcastle United in a crucial match for their hopes of finishing in the top four.

It will be a rapid turnaround of fixtures for Liam Rosenior, who would be taking a huge risk if he were to rest any of his key players for either clash. For Enrique, it would have been the same as PSG are locked in a tight title race in Ligue 1.

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Unfortunately for Rosenior's side, the defending European champions will have significantly more rest before the second leg. PSG's request for their match against Nantes to be postponed has been accepted.

When the decision was made on Saturday afternoon, a spokesperson from Ligue 1 released a statement which read: "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. The exact date and time of the match will be determined later."

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The Premier League have re-arranged some matches in reaction to teams competing in the Champions League, but any alterations have not been too significant. This week, they re-scheduled Arsenal's home clash against Everton from Sunday, March 15 to Saturday March 14, to ensure they do not have a 48-hour turnaround before their home clash to Bayer Leverkusen on March 17.

Given Chelsea's home clash against Newcastle is on the Saturday, the Premier League will not consider postponing the match in the same way as Ligue 1 have. However, when the second leg against PSG comes round, Rosenior will be telling his players not to worry about the schedule.

When asked about the draw, Rosenior said: "So excited. PSG are a fantastic team. Obviously I have experience of playing against them in France. They are a team I have always admired.

"I think Luis has done an incredible job there. These are the games you live for. These are the games that you come into football for.

"It’s going to be a great tie between two fantastic teams. I am really, really looking forward to it, but we’ve got another three games before that which I need to focus on.”

Straight after the crucial clash against the defending champions, Chelsea travel to Merseyside to face Everton in the Premier League on March 21. Given how close the race to the top four is, this would also be a must win match.