A helping hand for Kylian Mbappe! How Ligue 1 are aiding PSG and Marseille ahead of their European semi-finals - explained

With the football season reaching its climax and matches piling up, Ligue 1 has recognised the need to provide PSG and Marseille with ample recovery time ahead of their pivotal European encounters. The rescheduling of league fixtures is expected to afford the teams a longer preparation period, enhancing their chances of success on the continental stage.

The LFP Board of Directors convened on Friday to deliberate on the scheduling adjustments for PSG and Marseille, considering the clubs' participation in the semifinals of prestigious European competitions. The Reims versus Marseille and Nice against Paris Saint-Germain fixtures, originally slated for the 32nd matchday, will now take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 9:00pm.

Furthermore, recognising the ripple effect of rescheduling on other clubs, the LFP Board of Directors has taken proactive measures to accommodate Reims and Nice. The matches between Stade Brestois 29 and Reims, as well as Nice and Havre AC, originally scheduled for the 33rd matchday, have been brought forward to Friday, May 10, 2024.

To ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of the league schedule, all other matches of the 33rd matchday of Ligue 1 Uber Eats will proceed as planned on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 9:00 p.m. This adjustment accounts for Marseille's involvement in the Europa League semifinal return leg, which precedes the league fixtures.

After knocking Barcelona out of the Champions League quarterfinals with a 6-4 aggregate win, PSG are slated to take on Borussia Dortmund on May 1 in the first leg, followed by the crucial second leg on May 7. Mbappe & Co. will have a rest period of six days ahead of the match at the Parc des Princes which should help them. Similarly, Marseille will also have no domestic commitments between their two European legs which is another boost to their hopes of winning the competition.

The rescheduling of fixtures underscores Ligue 1's proactive approach to bolstering the performance of French clubs in UEFA tournaments and elevating France's index ranking, a key strategic objective for the league. PSG will be back in action against Lyon on Sunday, while Marseille will face Toulouse on the same day.