Monaco
Ligue 1 Season Finale: All eyes on Lille and Paris Saint-Germain in must-win games
The 2020/21 Ligue 1 title race goes down to the wire as three sides battle it out for the ultimate prize on the final matchday of the season. League leaders Lille harbour a slender one-point lead on second-placed Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the final round of fixtures, with Monaco in third lurking in the shadows. Les Dogues hold the Ligue 1 title reins firmly in their hands as they head to the Stade Raymond-Kopa to tackle injury-hit Angers. Monaco – From potential champions to potentially biggest losers Third-placed Monaco have an outside chance of claiming their first Ligue 1 crown since 2016/17. Sitting three points adrift of pacesetters Lille, the club from the French principality make the trip to newly-promoted Lens for Sunday’s showdown. While they remain in contention for what would...
Ligue 1 POTY: Who deserves to win player of the year for 2020/21?
The nominees for Ligue 1 player of the season have been announced, with Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, AS Monaco and Lyon players all involved. While the Ligue 1 title race is yet to reach its conclusion, Lille remain three points ahead of Paris Saint-Germain with just two games remaining. The latter do have a significantly improved goal difference, so any slip up from Christophe Galtier’s side could change everything. Who are the nominees Neymar (PSG) Kylian Mbappe (PSG) Memphis Depay (Lyon) Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) Burak Yilmaz (Lille) Neymar Starting with Brazilian star Neymar, it is quite frankly a surprise to see him on this list. Neymar has only featured in 16 Ligue 1 matches this season, due to being injured for the vast majority of the campaign. Despite scoring eight goals and ...
Neymar on target as PSG beat Lens ahead of Man City clash
Neymar netted on 33 minutes and his corner was headed home by Marquinhos just prior to the hour mark at the Parc des Princes, with Cameroonian forward Ignatius Ganago pulling a goal back for Lens. It was a huge three points for PSG in their attempt to retain the Ligue 1 title, as Mauricio Pochettino’s side move provisionally two points clear of Lille at the top of the table. However Lille can return to the summit by beating Nice at home later on Saturday, while third-placed Monaco will return to within a single point of PSG if they defeat Lyon on Sunday. PSG are looking to win their eighth Ligue 1 title in nine years and, given how close the title race is in France this season, they could not afford to take it easy in between the two legs of their Champions League tie against City. Last se...
Who will win the thrilling 2020/21 Ligue 1 title race?
As the 2020/21 Ligue 1 campaign enters its final five games of the season, the supposed ‘farmers league’ has a breathtaking title race on its hands. Three points separate current leaders Lille’s 70, from fourth-placed Lyon on 67. Paris Saint-Germain are second on 69, with Monaco third with 68. This is only the eighth time in Ligue 1 history that less than 10 points separate the top four with five games to go, and this season is sure to have a few more twists in the tale before the campaign draws to a close. Can Lille’s knack for last-gasp goals keep them on track? Will Monaco’s stunning 2021 form continue? Will the typically dominant PSG prevail? Or will Lyon secure their first title in over a decade? Sportslens takes a look at the title hopefuls’ run-ins, assessing where the opportunities...
Borussia Dortmund interested in Terem Moffi
Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund are monitoring Nigeria forward Terem Moffi. Moffi, 21, has caught the attention of top European clubs following his impressive displays for modest Lorient in Ligue 1 this season. The striker has scored 11 goals in 27 league appearances for the club. The pacy striker has scored against Ligue 1 big clubs; Paris Saint-Germain (one goal), Monaco (three goals) and Olympic Marseille (two goals) in the current campaign. According to footmercato, Dortmund have listed the Lorient star as one of the potential replacements for Norway striker Erling Haaland, who is a subject of interest from top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City. Moffi only linked up with Lorient from Belgian outfit Kortrijk last summer. He was a revelation in the Lithuani...
Paris Saint-Germain wait for Neymar to sign contract extension
Paris Saint-Germain were revelling in the joy of knocking holders Bayern Munich out of the Champions League in midweek when Neymar offered more cause for celebration. In an interview with Brazilian broadcaster TNT Sports following PSG’s away-goals victory in the quarter-finals, Neymar dropped a clear hint that he would be staying at PSG beyond the end of his current contract. “For me there is no debate, it is obvious that I feel very comfortable here and at home at Paris Saint-Germain. I feel happier than I did before,” the world’s most expensive player said. His current contract, signed following his arrival from Barcelona for 222 million euros ($264m) in 2017, runs out at the end of next season, at the same time as Kylian Mbappe’s deal. It has been reported in France since the Bayern gam...
WCQ: Tottenham’s Tanguy Ndombele returns to France squad
Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has been rewarded for his upturn in form with a recall to the France squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 24-year-old hasn’t featured for Les Bleus since the summer of 2019 but now has the chance to add to his six international caps in matches against Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Other notable returnees include Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Lemar, who hasn’t featured since November 2019, while Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele, a member of their 2018 World Cup-winning squad, is back for the first time in two-and-a-half years. This represents Ndombele’s first international call up since his club-record €60 million (£54m/$68m) move from Lyon to Tottenham. The Frenchman arrived in north London with a reputation as an all-action midf...
Kylian Mbappe wants 700,000 euros a week
Kylian Mbappe has said he will only renew if big money is involved. He has yet to make a firm decision on his future, but he is clear that he wants a pay rise if he is to extend his contract. He wants 36 million euros a year, like Neymar. PSG are going to be involved in tough negotiations to keep hold of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman is studying his options before deciding on his future, but he is clear what his transfer demands are if he is to form part of a new peoject. And his salary is the main issue. Mbappe wants to be seen as one of the best footballers in Europe and he wants that to be reflected in his salary. According to ‘The Athletic’, Man City have pulled out of the race to get the French striker after finding out about his transfer demands. Kylian, therefore, wants to earn sligh...
Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco to face off in must win encounter
This season’s Ligue 1 has been one of the most captivating campaigns in recent years in France, with four teams very much in the hunt for the league title. This weekend’s batch of fixtures in the French top-flight could prove to be crucial, as two of the quadrant, Paris Saint-German and AS Monaco, face-off this weekend in a game that could have huge ramifications for the Ligue 1 table. Here is a preview of the games you can look forward to this weekend. Brest vs Lyon 19-02-21 (BT Sport ESPN) 20:00 GMT The weekend action in France kicks-off tonight, as Lyon travel to Brittany to take on mid-table Stade Brestois. OL will have to be at their best in this match as Olivier Dall’Oglio’s Stade Brest have proven to be stern opposition so far this season. Rudi Garcia will be keen for...
Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco to face off in must win encounter
This season’s Ligue 1 has been one of the most captivating campaigns in recent years in France, with four teams very much in the hunt for the league title. This weekend’s batch of fixtures in the French top-flight could prove to be crucial, as two of the quadrant, Paris Saint-German and AS Monaco, face-off this weekend in a game that could have huge ramifications for the Ligue 1 table. Here is a preview of the games you can look forward to this weekend. Brest vs Lyon 19-02-21 (BT Sport ESPN) 20:00 GMT The weekend action in France kicks-off tonight, as Lyon travel to Brittany to take on mid-table Stade Brestois. OL will have to be at their best in this match as Olivier Dall’Oglio’s Stade Brest have proven to be stern opposition so far this season. Rudi Garcia will be keen for...
PSG still favourites for title but can Depay or David engineer a stunning upset?
Out of Europe’s big five leagues, Ligue 1, the top division of French football, gets overlooked the most. While some people have been bored of Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in the league over the last few years, that hasn’t been the case this year with this season set for a dramatic climax. At the time of writing only six points separate first to fourth, so here is an in-depth analysis of all the teams in the race for the French title. AS Monaco – current position – 4th The underdogs at the moment in the top four, principality side AS Monaco have pulled themselves back into the reckoning for the French crown this season. AS Monaco are the only side to have prevented PSG from claiming the title since the 2012-13 season with their success in the 2016-17 campaign. While the current Monaco s...
Southampton confirm Arsenal target to leave club on free transfer
Southampton have confirmed that Arsenal and AC Milan target Ryan Bertrand will leave the club for free this summer. Bertrand has spent the last six years of his career on Southampton’s books, scoring eight goals in 240 appearances, but he will walk through the St Mary’s exit doors at the end of the 2020-21 season after failing to reach an extension agreement with the club. The Saints have announced the 31-year-old’s departure, thanking him for his sterling contribution to their cause while insisting he will always hold a special place in the heart of the club’s supporters. “Southampton Football Club can today confirm that Ryan Bertrand will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season,” a statement on the club’s official website read. “Bertrand was a key part of the te...