Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are the defending UEFA Champions League winners, having beaten Inter Milan 5-0 in the final last year. They are set to relish an advantage in their upcoming continental clashes against Chelsea following a recent mandate.
PSG To Be Well-Rested Ahead of Chelsea European Tie
Earlier on Friday, Feb. 27, the Champions League Round of 16, quarterfinal, and semi-final draws took place in Nyon, Switzerland. The draw saw PSG, an unseeded side, face Premier League side Chelsea in the last 16 of the competition.
PSG, who finished 11th in the league phase last month, will welcome the Blues for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on March 11. They will travel to west London for the return leg on March 17, with the club keen to win their second Champions League trophy.
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However, the Luis Enrique-coached side has recently been handed a sense of relief by the LFP, France’s soccer governing body. Their Ligue 1 encounter against Nantes on March 14 has been postponed to offer them more time to prepare for the aforesaid second leg.
A statement stated on Saturday, “At the request of Paris Saint-Germain in order to prepare in the best possible conditions for its two-legged tie with Chelsea in the Champions League Round of 16, the LFP Board of Directors, with the agreement of FC Nantes, has decided the PSG-FC Nantes match (at Parc des Princes) will be played the week of April 20.”
Interestingly, France’s other European representatives, namely Olympique Lyonnais, LOSC Lille, and RC Strasbourg, have not lately been offered a similar reprieve by the LFP.
On the other hand, Chelsea are still scheduled to play a match on the weekend before their home clash against PSG on Mar. 17. They will face Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Mar. 14 as they aim for a top five finish in the Premier League this term.
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has claimed that Eberechi Eze will start over Martin Odegaard in the Gunners’ home league contest against the Blues this Sunday.
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“I don’t know what the team is going to be at the weekend, because we know Chelsea are very strong in midfield. (Cole) Palmer, (Moises) Caicedo, and (Enzo) Fernandez are all very good players. We know Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice will play (for Arsenal)… Eze will probably start,” the three-time Premier League winner told Metro.
While the Gunners are atop the 2025-26 Premier League standings with 61 points from 28 matches, Liam Rosenior’s side is currently No.6 with 45 points from 27 games.
