PSG-Nice is the poster child for the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France. The first in the Ligue 1 standings against the fourth. A poster which will not take place immediately, while the quarters were to take place from February 27 to 29. After Lyon-Strasbourg this Wednesday (8:45 p.m.), Rouen, resident of National, will face Ligue 2 club Valenciennes on Wednesday (9 p.m.) and Le Puy, which plays in National 2, will try to pursue its dream against Rennes, Thursday (8:45 p.m. ). Matches to follow on beIN SPORTS. As for PSG-Nice, it will be… March 13, at 9:10 p.m., on beIN SPORTS and France 3.
The French Football Federation explains this “tailor-made programming” by several factors, starting with “the European calendar of the capital club”. Indeed, PSG will face Real Sociedad next Tuesday (9 p.m.), in San Sebastian, in the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League. Knowing that PSG-Rennes (1-1) was played on Sunday, the Bretons having faced and beaten AC Milan (3-2) last Thursday in the Europa League, Parisians and Rennes could only play on Wednesday or Thursday in the Coupe de France, definitely not Tuesday. In order to respect the obligatory rest times, it was in fact Wednesday or nothing for PSG. Except that Luis Enrique’s players are going to Monaco on Friday (9 p.m.) for the 24th day of Ligue 1. A match which could possibly have been played on Saturday, but the LFP had already set the championship program before.
Last but not least, Hervé Renard’s Bleues joined the equation. Qualified for the final on Wednesday (7 p.m.), the French women’s team has already guided the choice of the Rouen-Valenciennes schedule. “The two teams were waiting to know the kick-off time for their match depending on the result of the French women’s team in the semi-finals of the League of Nations,” specifies the FFF, knowing that the small final will take place at 21h.
Still, this potentially historic final, with Les Bleues having no title to their name, weighed in the balance. “This tailor-made program aims to preserve both the competitiveness of French clubs on the European scene as well as the visibility of the French women’s team and the Coupe de France,” we assure the “Fédé” . Note that the Nations League semi-final was broadcast on France 3. When the postponement of PSG-Nice was announced on February 9, one could imagine that France Télévisions, which has the rights to the best poster in the Cup of France, would also broadcast the Bleues final on its channels. Finally, they will be continued… on W9.
One thing is certain: Luis Enrique and his players will not complain about this decision, having only played three matches since the first round against Real Sociedad, compared to four for the Basque club. And this even if they will have to face three meetings in eight days from March 10 to 17 (Reims, Nice, Montpellier), before the international break. In fact, all French football should rejoice: putting Paris-SG in the best conditions before the C1 is not a luxury for the UEFA ranking… It is up to the Parisians to do the job Anoeta, they who won 2-0 at the Parc des Princes. The draw for the Coupe de France semi-finals? It will be Friday evening.