Lyon fixture switch angers Bayern

Bayern Munich are crying foul after Lyon were given permission to hold over a domestic league match scheduled to be played between the first and second legs of their Champions League semi-final.

Lyon face Bayern in the first leg on April 21, and now have a clear six days to recover before the second leg on April 27 after succeeding in having their French first division match with Monaco on April 24 postponed until May.

“The French authorities believe that they can with this decision give Lyon a better chance of reaching the (Champions League) final, and I reckon they are right,” Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said in an interview with German daily tz.

Despite having their noses put out of joint Bayern are stopping short of lodging a protest with Champions League organisers UEFA as requested by van Gaal.

“There is no official procedure, this decision is sovereign as it comes from the French League,” a Bayern spokesman explained.

The French League announced the postponement of the Lyon v Monaco match on Thursday, explaining that “this game has been moved to May 12 in order to get Lyon in the best condition”.

Whilst Lyon can prepare for the return leg without any domestic distractions Bayern must travel to Monchengladbach on April 24 for a Bundesliga game.