Ligue 1

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

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 ...

Read More

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...

Read More

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 ...

Read More

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 ...

Read More

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...

Read More

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...

Read More

8Oct By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Monaco stays top of French league with win over Reims

17 Aleksandr GOLOVIN (asm) - 14 Ismail JAKOBS (asm) - 29 Folarin BALOGUN (asm) during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Stade de Reims and Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club at Stade Auguste Delaune on October 7, 2023 in Reims, France. Ismail Jakobs has scored a goal and had an assist as Monaco beat Reims 3-1 to keep the top spot in the French league.Monaco moved one point clear of second-place Nice, who edged Metz 1-0 with a goal from Hicham Boudaoui.Jakobs, a Senegal international, gave Monaco the lead in Saturday's match with a first-time effort in the 42nd minute after the Reims defence poorly cleared a cross from Krepin Diatta.Folarin Balogun doubled the lead with a powerful strike from a tight angle in the 46th.France international Wissam Ben Yedder made it 3-0 for t...

Read More

25Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG rout bitter rivals Marseille 4-0 but Mbappe injured

 Nice's Swiss defender #23 Jordan Lotomba (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe (R) during the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OGC Nice at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on September 15, 2023. Forwards Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos have scored their first goals for Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-0 home rout of Marseille in the French league but the victory was marred by star striker Kylian Mbappe getting injured.Mbappe limped off in the 32nd minute after taking a blow to the left ankle earlier in Sunday's game and trying to play on. He was able to walk off the field at Parc des Princes.PSG coach Luis Enrique said Mbappe's injury was not serious."He was in a bit of pain and it was difficult for h...

Read More

18Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG not obsessed with winning Champions League, says Luis Enrique

 Luis Enrique Head coach of PSG looks dejected at full-time following the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain and OGC Nice at Parc des Princes on September 15, 2023 in Paris, France. An obsession with winning the Champions League would only hurt Paris St Germain, manager Luis Enrique said on the eve of the Ligue 1 side's group-stage clash with Borussia Dortmund.PSG have been the most successful club in France since Qatar Sports Investments took over in 2011, winning the league nine times. They have also had success in France's domestic cup competitions, but have failed to win the Champions League.The French champions relaunch their quest for the elusive trophy on Tuesday, taking on Dortmund in their opening game of a difficult group - which also features English s...

Read More

17Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Monaco predicted XI v Lorient: Folarin Balogun set for first start?

 Folarin Balogun #20 of United States looks on against Oman at Allianz Field on September 12, 2023 in St Paul, Minnesota. Folarin Balogun could make his first start for AS Monaco in today’s Ligue 1 fixture against FC Lorient. Mohamed Camara is suspended, meaning that Denis Zakaria is set to move into the midfield for the first time. Balogun, at least in the short-term, is seemingly in competition for a starting place with Wissam Ben Yedder, despite manager Adi Hütter stating that the two can play together. The USMNT striker came off the bench to make his debut in a 3-0 victory against RC Lens before the international break, but he may now be set for a first start. Elsewhere, there are no fresh concerns for the Principality club. Camara is suspended, with new signing Zak...

Read More

16Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Struggling Lyon hires former Italy defender Fabio Grosso as new coach

 Fabio Grosso Mister of Frosinone Calcio, Conferenza Stampa, Press Conference during the Italian soccer Serie B match Cagliari Calcio vs Frosinone Calcio on April 15, 2023 at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy.Struggling French club Lyon hired former Italy defender Fabio Grosso as its new coach on Saturday.Grosso replaces Laurent Blanc, who left by mutual consent following a terrible start to the season. Lyon is in last place with only one point from four games.Lyon said that the 45-year-old Grosso has a contract until the end of the season, with the option for an extra season.He will watch the home game against promoted Le Havre on Sunday night and take charge of the team on Monday.Deputy coach Jean-Francois Vulliez will oversee the Le Havre game.Grosso won the World Cup with Italy ...

Read More

15Sep By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Enrique suffers first PSG loss despite Mbappe goals

 Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish headcoach Luis Enrique (L) embraces Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #07 Kylian Mbappe (R) after the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OGC Nice at The Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris on September 15, 2023.Paris St-Germain fell to their first defeat under new boss Luis Enrique as they were beaten by Nice despite Kylian Mbappe's double.Terem Moffi gave Nice the lead with a deflected shot into the bottom corner but Mbappe levelled with a first-time shot from the edge of the area.Gaetan Laborde bundled the visitors back into the lead and Nigeria's Moffi hit a fine strike from 18 yards.Mbappe's flying volley gave PSG hope but they could not level.It was the France captain's seventh goal in four games this season after his re...

Read More

13Aug By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe back in training and likely to stay at PSG

 Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain FC looks on from the stand during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Lorient at Parc des Princes on August 12, 2023 in Paris, France.Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has returned to first-team training and is likely to stay at the French champions this summer.The France forward, 24, had not been training with the first-team squad and was left out of PSG's 0-0 season opener with Lorient on Saturday.He has been in a contract stand-off amid a desire to join Real Madrid but could now extend his contract at PSG.PSG said Mbappe was reinstated after "very constructive and positive" talks.The France captain watched the game on Saturday from the stands with France team-mate Ousmane Dembele, who joined PSG from Barcelona fo...

Read More

22Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

Mbappe left out of PSG’s pre-season trip to Asia

 Footballer Kylian Mbappe is seen attending the Men's Singles Final match between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Casper Ruud of Norway on Day Fifteen of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on June 11, 2023 in Paris, France.  Kylian Mbappe has been left out of Paris St-Germain’s squad for their pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea. The club’s all-time leading goalscorer is refusing to sign a year’s extension to his contract which ends next summer. PSG therefore want to sell the France forward now and secure a transfer fee rather than let him go for nothing. Mbappe, however, has said he wants to remain with PSG for one more year before leaving upon the expiration of his current deal. He is widely believed to be aiming to join Real Madrid for nothing at the end of the upcoming s...

Read More

1Jul By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG coach Christophe Galtier to stand trial in racism probe

 Christophe Galtier head coach of PSG prior the UEFA Champions League round of 16 leg two match between FC Bayern München and Paris Saint-Germain at Allianz Arena on March 8, 2023 in Munich, Germany. Galtier and his son, John Valovic-Galtier, were placed in custody for questioning on Friday morning. After his son was released without charge, Galtier was referred to the public prosecutor’s office and will stand trial in Nice on Dec. 15 on charges of psychological harassment and discrimination, prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme posted on Twitter. If found guilty, Galtier risks a maximum sentence of three years in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($49,000). Galtier, who is on his way out at PSG but still under contract, denied accusations that he made racist and anti-Muslim comments when he...

Read More

13Jun By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

Ligue 1

PSG prepared to sell Mbappe this summer

 Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe reacts after receiving the Best Ligue 1 Player award during the 31th edition of the UNFP (French National Professional Football players Union) trophy ceremony, in Paris May 28, 2023.Paris St-Germain are prepared to sell Kylian Mbappe this summer rather than risk losing him for free in a year’s time, after he told the French club he will not renew his contract. The France forward’s current deal expires at the end of next season, with the option of another year. There was a deadline of 31 July for Mbappe, 24, to tell PSG if he was going to renew until 2025. After months of talks, he has sent the club a letter saying he will not. PSG’s record goalscorer would be free to leave for nothing at the end of next season and the move could be a...

Read More