Paris Saint-Germain get helping hand ahead of Champions League tussle with Aston Villa

The French League (LFP) has accepted a request from the Parisien club to postpone their match with Nantes, which was scheduled for the weekend between the two legs of their European clash with Villa.

It means they will have no distractions in the six days between the first leg at home to Villa on April 9 and the return in Birmingham on April 15.

Villa, by contrast, travel to Southampton for a Premier League fixture on April 12.

The situation has echoes of 12 months ago when Villa’s opponents in the Conference League quarter-finals, Lille, also had a domestic match postponed between the two legs of the tie.

Villa eventually emerged victorious after a penalty shoot-out but the club was moved to suggest the Premier League provide greater assistance to those competing in Europe when it came to scheduling decisions.

Emery has been vocal in his criticism of this season’s fixture congestion, with Villa left fuming when their league match with Liverpool was brought forward by a month after the Reds reached the Carabao Cup final.

PSG’s request to move their match with Nantes to later in the month was initially rejected by their opponents, who are battling to stay in the French top flight and believed a chance would negatively impact their own schedule.

But that has now been overruled by the LFP, which has previously made clear the importance of French clubs performing well in Europe.

Explaining their decision to assist Lille last year, the league stated: “The progress of French clubs in European Cups is an absolute priority. All points scored are fundamental for France's Uefa co-efficient.

"Football constitutes a national flagship and, through the performances of clubs at European level, it allows France to shine internationally."