Ligue 1

23Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

“It’s not up to me” – Kylian Mbappe on possibility of delaying arrival at Real Madrid

Kylian MbappeIt’s highly expected that Real Madrid will finally get their hands on Kylian Mbappe this summer. The 24-year-old has already notified Paris Saint-Germain of his intention to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, which would open the door for Los Blancos to swoop in.It’s been over a month since those reports emerged, but since then, there has been little movement. Personal terms are still being worked on between Mbappe’s camp and Real Madrid, and the player himself has confirmed that there is still no agreement, as per Diario AS.“I haven’t announced anything because I didn’t have anything to announce. If I haven’t, it’s because I don’t have anything to announce. The day I have something to announce, I’ll say it. I’ve never hidden. I’m sorry to disappoint you...

22Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 partners with McDonald’s in new naming rights deal

The Golden Arches and Drive Thru logo of the fast food restaurant McDonald's at the Sedgemoor Services on the M5 motorway, on February 25, 2024 in Bristol, England. Ligue 1 has caused a stir with the announcement that McDonald's will be its new naming rights partner from next season until at least the end of the 2026/27 campaign.It is not yet clear exactly what the league will be officially called, but McDonald's replaces another fast food brand as principal partner of the French top flight, known as Ligue 1 Uber Eats since 2020. The likeliest outcome is that it follows the same format and becomes 'Ligue 1 McDonald's'.McDonald's has 1,560 locations across 1,150 towns and cities throughout France, with the football league (LFP) hoping the deal will help to develop the Ligue 1 bra...

20Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe’s reduced playing time with PSG may benefit France: Deschamps

Kylian Mbappe looks on during a France training session as part of the French national team's preparation for upcoming friendly football matches at Centre National du Football on March 19, 2024 in Clairefontaine-En-Yvelines, France. Kylian Mbappe’s reduced playing time with Paris St Germain in recent weeks could be good news for the France national team as it may keep him fresh for the European Championship and Olympic Games, manager Didier Deschamps said.The France captain, who informed PSG last month that he would leave them as a free agent at the end of the season, has played the full 90 minutes in just three matches since Feb. 14, a 2-1 Champions League win at Real Sociedad, a 3-1 French Cup win over Nice and a 6-2 league win over Montpellier on Sunday.Asked about Mbappe’s g...

18Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe bags hat-trick as PSG hit six, David continues scoring streak

Kylian Mbappe #7 of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates his third goal with teammates during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Montpellier HSC and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade de la Mosson on March 17, 2024 in Montpellier, France. An unstoppable Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a 6-2 win away to Montpellier on Sunday that allowed them to open up a huge 12-point lead at the top of Ligue 1.Vitinha put PSG ahead at the Stade de la Mosson and Mbappe doubled their advantage midway through the first half, only for an Arnaud Nordin header and a Teji Savanier penalty to bring Montpellier back level at the interval.However, a marvellous Mbappe goal restored PSG's lead shortly after the break and Lee Kang-in made it 4-2 before the France captain completed ...

17Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Nice leapfrog Lens, Strasbourg score first win of 2024

Nice's Nigerian forward #09 Terem Moffi (R) celebrates his team's first goal during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and OGC Nice at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France, on March 16, 2024.Nice have ended a six-match winless streak in style with a 3-1 victory at last season's French league runners-up Lens.The result moved Nice to fourth in Ligue 1, a point above their hosts, who failed to make the most of numerous chances on Saturday.Forward Terem Moffi scored twice for the visitors, with Khephren Thuram adding Nice's other goal.Elye Wahi reduced the deficit for Lens with 15 minutes left.Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha scored twice as Strasbourg snapped an eight-game winless streak by beating struggling Nantes 3-1.Emegha has been one of the revelations of the...

14Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG’s Mbappe delivers in Coupe de France

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint Germain walks in the field during the French Cup (Coupe de France) quarterfinal match between Paris Saint-Germain and OGC Nice at Parc des Princes on March 13, 2024 in Paris, France.Luis Enrique is starting to see a return on his treatment of Kylian Mbappe after the France international scored in a 3-1 Paris Saint-Germain win over OGC Nice to reach the Coupe de France semifinals. Mbappe, Fabian Ruiz and Lucas Beraldo all tallied to render Gaetan Laborde's effort nothing more than consolation and now Les Parisiens face Stade Rennais for a place in the final ahead of what could be a domestic double at the end of this season.After he was left out of the starting XI for the 2-2 draw with Stade de Reims last Sunday, Mbappe was recalled by Luis Enrique and made...

10Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Enrique defends decision to bench Mbappe as PSG drop points again

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN coach Luis Enrique defended his stuttering team after they were held 2-2 by Reims in Ligue 1 on Sunday, a third straight domestic draw which still allowed the reigning champions to go 10 points clear at the top of the table.Kylian Mbappe was rested at kick-off after scoring both goals in PSG’s 2-1 midweek win at Real Sociedad which saw them qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate.Without him, PSG fell behind to a Marshall Munetsi goal following an error by Achraf Hakimi.They hit back and found themselves ahead thanks to a Yunis Abdelhamid own goal and a Goncalo Ramos strike, but Oumar Diakite’s goal for Reims ensured a share of the spoils.It was at times a disjointed and error-strewn display from a PSG side showing six changes from their m...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe tension overshadows PSG’s crunch Champions League date

Kylian Mbappe looks on during a Paris Saint-Germain training session at Campus PSG on March 03, 2024 in Paris, France.PSG have suffered numerous humiliating defeats at this stage of the Champions League in recent years but they are ideally placed to advance to the quarter-finals this time after winning 2-0 at home to the Basque side in last month's first leg.Mbappe scored the opening goal in that game but the following day the superstar striker informed PSG of his intention to leave when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.Luis Enrique might have been expected to make the most of being able to call on Mbappe until then, but instead he has made a point of reducing his top scorer's playing time.Mbappe was left on the bench for PSG's next game at Nantes, although he came on ...

4Mar

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Record-setting Brest consolidate second spot in Ligue 1, Nice slip up

Brest's French midfielder #20 Pierre Lees-Melou (L) fights for the ball with Le Havre's French midfielder #94 Abdoulaye Toure during the French L1 football match between Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) and Le Havre AC at Stade Francis-Le Ble in Brest, western France on March 3, 2024. A goal just after the half-hour from Pierre Lees-Melou gave Brest victory to close the gap to PSG to nine points and seal a club record 13 top-flight matches without defeat."Very satisfied. We've got a bit of a lead on points, it's good to get them now," said Brest coach Eric Roy."I'm proud and happy for our team, who have made history by going 13 games unbeaten."The win gives Brest a four-point cushion over third-placed Monaco, who played out a goalless draw with PSG on Friday.Midfielder Lees-Melou slott...

20Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Gennaro Gattuso sacked by Marseille after 24 matches

Head coach Gennaro Gattuso of Olympique Marseille looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Playoff First Leg match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and Olympique de Marseille at Volksparkstadion on February 15, 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. Marseille have announced the sacking of head coach Gennaro Gattuso after just 24 matches in charge.The former AC Milan, Valencia and Napoli manager took over from Marcelino at the Orange Velodrome at the end of September but has only masterminded nine wins over the past five months.A 1-0 loss to Brest in Sunday's Ligue 1 showdown left Marseille ninth in the table, dropping down six places since Marcelino's tenure abruptly finished with Les Olympiens inside the Champions League spots.Marseille are now nine points adrift of the top four, as well a...

13Feb

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe set to return for PSG against Real Sociedad

Kylian Mbappe and Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain react during a training session prior the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match against Real Sociedad at Campus PSG on February 13, 2024 in Paris, France. Kylian Mbappe is set to return for Paris St-Germain for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at home to Real Sociedad on Wednesday.The 25-year-old France striker was an unused substitute for PSG's 3-1 league win against Lille on Saturday.PSG boss Luis Enrique chose to rest Mbappe for the game after he picked up an ankle injury in a French Cup win over Brest."Kylian Mbappe is available, just like the other players," said Luis Enrique."When a team has a player like Kylian Mbappe, of course we know that the more he plays the better, because we...

29Jan

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG blow two-goal advantage in home draw with Brest

Marco ASENSIO (R) of Paris Saint - Germain in action during the French Ligue 1 (L1) soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Stade Brestois 29 (Brest) at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France on January 28, 2024.Paris Saint-Germain blew a two-goal advantage and saw their French league lead over Nice reduced to six points after a 2-2 draw with Brest.PSG led 2-0 at the break on Monday (AEDT) but an own goal and an equaliser 10 minutes from the end exposed ongoing difficulties at the back when under pressure.Luis Enrique is the latest PSG coach to be confronted with a problem with composure that resurfaces every season, especially when star striker Kylian Mbappe fails to paper over the cracks with his scoring.Mbappe could not add to his league-leading 19 goals and was show...

21Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe’s birthday brilliance secures PSG’s win over Metz

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is playing during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Metz at Parc des Princes in Paris, France, on December 21, 2023.Paris Saint-Germain celebrated the year-end atop Ligue 1 with a convincing 3-1 victory against Metz, led by Kylian Mbappe's sensational performance on his 25th birthday.At Parc des Princes, the match started sluggishly for PSG, but Vitinha changed the tempo, scoring swiftly after the break with a debut goal. Mbappe then stole the spotlight, doubling the lead with a spectacular long-range strike, showcasing his sheer brilliance. Despite Matthieu Udol's determined header for Metz, Mbappe struck again, capitalising on a defensive mistake, closing the game 3-1 and securing his 18th league goal of t...

17Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Nasty for Nice as high-flyers lose at Le Havre

Le Havre's US midfielder #11 Emmanuel Sabbi (R) fights for the ball with Nice's French defender #06 Jean-Clair Todibo before scoring the first goal during the French L1 football match between Le Havre AC and OGC Nice at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, north-western France, on December 16, 2023.US international Emmanuel Sabbi has scored two first-half goals to lead Le Havre to a surprise 3-1 win over Nice in a match both sides finished with 10 men. Second-placed Nice had conceded only six goals in their previous 15 matches but trailed 3-0 after little more than 50 minutes of the clash at Stade Oceane. Sabbi struck in the fifth and 35th minutes, finding the net for the first time for promoted Le Havre having joined in the off-season on a four-year deal from Danish club Odense. Mohamed Ba...

10Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Leader PSG beats Nantes to stretch winning streak to 8 games in Ligue 1

23 Randal KOLO MUANI (psg) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint Germain and Football Club de Nantes at Parc des Princes on December 9, 2023 in Paris, France.Paris Saint-Germain beat Nantes 2-1 for an eighth straight win in the French league on Saturday.Meanwhile, 10-man Monaco downed Rennes 2-1 and leapfrogged Nice into second place.PSG substitute Randal Kolo Muani scored the winner by converting a rebound in the 83rd minute after goalkeeper Alban Lafont saved a header from Lucas Hernandez.Bradley Barcola gave PSG the lead by rounding Marcus Coco to slot into the far corner just before halftime. But mid-table Nantes grew bolder in the second half and Egypt striker Mostafa Mohamed equalized by heading home a corner in the 55th.“Bradley Barcola is the present and the ...

4Dec

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe leads 10-men PSG to hard fought win at Le Havre

Arouna Sangante of Le Havre, Kylian Mbappe of PSG in action during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Le Havre AC (HAC) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at Stade Oceane on December 3, 2023 in Le Havre, France. Paris Saint-Germain ground out a tense 2-0 victory away to Le Havre on Sunday courtesy of strikes by Kylian Mbappe and Vitinha, after ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saw red early on.Despite the two-goal win, PSG had to show great resilience to keep the hosts at bay and move four points clear of second-placed Nice in the table.After going down to 10 men in the 10th minute, a fine Mbappe goal, his 15th in the league this season, gave the embattled visitors the lead, but the points were only wrapped up right at the end when Portuguese midfielder Vitinha doubled the score with one...

25Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappé scores a penalty as PSG beats Monaco to move four points clear at top

Vitinha of PSG celebrates his goal with Kylian Mbappe during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco (ASM) at Parc des Princes stadium on November 24, 2023 in Paris, France. Star striker Kylian Mbappé scored his 14th league goal of the season as French leader Paris Saint-Germain beat third-place Monaco 5-2 to move four points clear at the top on Friday.Second-place Nice can keep the gap at one point if it beats Toulouse at home on Sunday.After striker Gonçalo Ramos put PSG ahead in the 18th minute, Monaco equalized four minutes later following a mistake from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.He was under pressure from Monaco forward Folarin Balogun, hesitated, and shot the ball straight at Japan forward Takumi Minamino, who finished confidently ...

7Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Dembele reveals why he changed his mind and decided to leave

Ousmane Dembele of PSG looks on during the UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan at Parc des Princes on October 25, 2023 in Paris, France. Ousmane Dembele has revealed why he decided to leave Barcelona and move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer transfer window.The Frenchman looked set to continue at the Camp Nou after saying he had been a Barca fan since he was young and wanted to win the Champions League with the Catalans.Dembele had also previously insisted he didn’t understand why there was so much talk about PSG before then signing for the Ligue 1 side.The forward now says that he simply couldn’t resist PSG and had always he would play for them at some point in his career.“Yes, I said I would stay at Barcelona, but after speaking with PSG ...

29Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Loanee Wilson-Esbrand sends Reims fourth in France

Reims' defender #19 Joshua Wilson-Esbrand (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the first goal for his team during the French L1 football match between Stade de Reims and FC Lorient at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, northern France on October 28, 2023.Substitute Josh Wilson-Esbrand has struck late as Reims edged Lorient 1-0 to move into fourth place in the French league.In Saturday's other Ligue 1 clash, last season's runners-up Lens continue to recover from their shaky start to the new campaign.Franck Haise's side climbed to ninth with a 4-0 thumping of Nantes helped by two goals and an assist from Florian Sotoca.On loan from Manchester City, Wilson-Esbrand opened his scoring account for Reims by curling into the far corner in the 84th minute."It was a no-brainer to come here...

25Oct

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Expert Praises Ousmane Dembele’s Transition from Barcelona to PSG

Ousmane Dembele looks on during a Paris Saint-Germain training session after signing his 5 year contract at Campus PSG on August 12, 2023 in Paris, France.Ousmane Dembele has registered zero goals and two assists in 10 matches in all competitions. There’s been some criticism over the 26-year-old’s production this 2023-24 season. However, one expert is defending the Frenchman.While the numbers aren’t there to reflect the product, RMC Sport pundit Rolland Courbis praised the form that the former FC Barcelona star finds himself in. Nonetheless, the ex-coach states that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner’s influence on the game goes beyond the stat sheet.“He has this ability to provoke his opponent, to trigger fouls in his defender, who can quickly be warned and no longer play as freely as h...