European football takes centre stage with a blockbuster weekend across Ligue 1, the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga, featuring title implications, historic rivalries and crucial points at stake as the season edges closer to its decisive phase.

In France, attention quickly turns to Paris Saint-Germain’s visit to Le Havre. PSG’s superior depth and attacking firepower make them favourites, but away fixtures in Ligue 1 can be deceptively tricky, especially against a disciplined side eager to frustrate and counter. The headline clash, however, sees Marseille host Lyon in one of French football’s fiercest rivalries. Expect a high-intensity encounter shaped by atmosphere, physical battles in midfield and moments of individual brilliance.

The Premier League schedule is stacked with defining fixtures. Liverpool against West Ham promises an energetic contest, with the Reds looking to maintain pressure in the race for Europe, while West Ham aim to disrupt with organisation and set-piece threat. Leeds United face a daunting test against Manchester City, whose control in possession and clinical finishing often prove decisive against high-pressing opponents.

Manchester United’s meeting with Crystal Palace carries importance in the race for European places, while the standout game sees league leaders and title favourites Arsenal host Chelsea in a heavyweight London derby that could significantly influence the championship narrative.

In Italy, Inter Milan welcome Genoa in a match they will view as a key opportunity to assert dominance near the summit, particularly with their strong home form. AC Milan’s trip to face Cremonese is another test of patience against a compact defensive side, while Roma versus Juventus is the marquee fixture of the round. This historic rivalry is rarely short on drama, with tactical discipline, defensive organisation and decisive moments in the final third likely to define the outcome.

La Liga offers its own share of drama, beginning with Barcelona’s clash against Villarreal, a fixture that often delivers open, attacking football. Atletico Madrid’s visit to Real Oviedo demands focus and efficiency against motivated opposition. The Seville derby between Real Betis and Sevilla adds fierce local pride to the mix, while Real Madrid hosting Getafe rounds off the action, with Los Blancos expected to push for maximum points as they keep pace in the title race.

Ligue 1, Matchday 24

Friday 27 February

21:45: Strasbourg v Lens – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport Maximo 1

Saturday 28 February

22:05: Le Havre v PSG – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport Maximo 1

Sunday 1 March

21:45: Marseille v Lyon – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport Maximo 1

Premier League, Matchday 28

Friday 27 February

22:00: Wolves v Aston Villa – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

Saturday 28 February

14:30: Bournemouth v Sunderland – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

17:00: Liverpool v West Ham – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

17:00: Newcastle v Everton – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport Maximo 1

17:00: Burnley v Brentford – LIVE on SuperSport Action and SuperSport Action Africa

19:30: Leeds United v Manchester City – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

Sunday 1 March

16:00: Fulham v Tottenham – LIVE on SuperSport Variety, SuperSport Action Africa and SuperSport Maximo 1

16:00: Brighton v Nottingham Forest – LIVE on SuperSport Action and SuperSport GOtv Football

16:00: Manchester United v Crystal Palace – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

18:30: Arsenal v Chelsea – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 2

Serie A, Matchday 27

Friday 27 February

21:45: Parma v Cagliari – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Saturday 28 February

16:00: Como v Lecce – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport Africa 2

19:00: Verona v Napoli – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 1 and SuperSport Maximo 360

21:45: Inter Milan v Genoa – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Sunday 1 March

13:30: Cremonese v AC Milan – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport Maximo 360

16:00: Sassuolo v Atalanta – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

19:00: Torino v Lazio – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

21:45: Roma v Juventus – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

Monday 2 March

19:30: Pisa v Bologna – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 2 and SuperSport Maximo 360

21:45: Udinese v Fiorentina – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Africa 1 and SuperSport Maximo 360

La Liga, Matchday 26

Friday 27 February

22:00: Levante v Alaves – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

Saturday 28 February

15:00: Rayo Vallecano v Athletic Bilbao – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

17:15: Barcelona v Villarreal – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

19:30: Mallorca v Real Sociedad – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

22:00: Real Oviedo v Atletico Madrid – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

Sunday 1 March

15:00: Elche v Espanyol – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

17:15: Valencia v Osasuna – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

19:30: Real Betis v Sevilla – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

22:00: Girona v Celta Vigo – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

Monday 2 March

22:00: Real Madrid v Getafe – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga and SuperSport Maximo 3

The Japan international fired into the bottom corner from 16 yards out from Aleksandr Golovin’s cross.

The hosts had to finish with 10 men though when Thilo Kehrer was sent off for a professional foul on Ibrahim Mbaye after a video assistant referee review.

Monaco brought on Paul Pogba late on for his first home appearance for the club and only his second game in more than two years after a doping ban.

PSG pushed for an equaliser in injury time but Vitinha had a shot saved and Joao Neves missed with a header.

Monaco move up to sixth, while PSG could lose top spot to Marseille later.

Marseille, two points behind PSG, play Toulouse at 20:00 GMT.

The 25-year-old has signed a three-year contract with the club after spending last season on loan at English side Sunderland, where he fell out of favour at RC Lens.

Despite playing a pivotal role in the Black Cats’ promotion to the Premier League, Sunderland opted not to make his move permanent.

Salis, a former Clermont Foot midfielder, made 11 appearances for Sunderland during his loan spell.

He is expected to play a central role for Nice this season and could make his debut on August 16 when Le Gym host Toulouse at the Allianz Riviera.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/mbappe-double-gives-psg-victory-at-brest/ Sun, 29 Oct 2023 15:19:20 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2311498 Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris St-Germain fended off a Brest fightback to win and move up to second in Ligue 1.

Warren Zaire-Emery put the visitors ahead with a shot from distance early on before Mbappe’s deflected finish appeared to have them in control.

Steve Mounie got one back for Brest with a header before Jeremy le Douaron nodded in an equaliser.

But Mbappe slotted in the winner late on after his initial penalty was denied.

It was harsh on Brest, who had looked the most likely to grab the winner as Gianluigi Donnarumma made some crucial saves.

The win stretches PSG’s unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to five games and moves them to within a point of leaders Nice.

Brest, meanwhile, are sixth.

Ideally, he would like to return to Barcelona but it is difficult to see how they can afford him because of their financial problems.

He has three years left to run on his £25m-a-year contract. There remains a question over whether he is jumping or being pushed.

At 31, he is not thought to be a key player for new head coach Luis Enrique as he builds a new side. PSG have been open to selling him in order to focus on building a younger, hungrier team.

There were discussions with Chelsea in January. It has been a turbulent summer in Paris with Lionel Messi leaving and the high-profile standoff with Kylian Mbappe.

The club did not comment on the matter when approached by Sky Sports News, but it is understood that the Brazil superstar, who is under contract until 2025, has yet to formally communicate his intention to leave to the club’s executives.

The club are resigned to either selling France striker Mbappe this summer or losing him for nothing next summer, when he will be out of contract.

Messi left the club earlier this summer to join Inter Miami and, if Neymar and Mbappe follow him out of PSG, it will well and truly mark the end of an era.

The club are trying to shake off what their president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has previously described as their “bling bling” image of the past and work to develop more players organically rather than bring in top-of-the-range superstars.

Neymar was arguably the epitome of the old approach, with PSG smashing the world transfer record to sign him from Barcelona in 2017 for 222 million euros (£200m at the time).

He has won France’s Ligue 1 title five times since joining PSG but has failed to add to the single Champions League crown he won with Barca in 2015.

Mbappe, meanwhile, has been left out of PSG’s main training group as the standoff over his contract continues.

PSG sources are convinced he has already reached an agreement to officially sign for Real Madrid when his contract expires and benefit from a 160m euro signing-on fee as a free agent.

PSG are understood to have even offered Mbappe a new contract with a “guaranteed sale” clause in it confirming he can leave for a fee next summer, but sources say his representatives have refused to engage on that, or any other, offer they have made.

PSG gave Al Hilal permission to speak to Mbappe after the Saudi club tabled a world record £259million offer last month. However, it was reported Mbappe and his representatives declined to even meet a delegation from the club when they visited Paris.

Chelsea and Barcelona are also understood to be trying to put together player-plus-cash deals to bring in Mbappe, who won the World Cup with France in 2018 and also starred at last year’s finals in Qatar.

The Argentine, linked to Barcelona when his contract expires this summer, has seen two Champions League last-16 exits in his two seasons at the club.

Whistles could be heard as his name was announced beforehand, although some fans chanted his name in support.

Lyon forward Bradley Barcola scored the only goal as PSG were booed off.

The game kicked off 10 minutes late as Lyon’s bus could not fit under a bridge so they had to drive around the capital.

Alexandre Lacazette had earlier struck a post with a penalty for the ninth-placed visitors.

Kylian Mbappe, PSG’s all-time top scorer, almost rescued a point late on, but his shot was saved.

The perennial French champions are now only six points above Lens and Marseille with nine games left.

PSG have lost seven of their 18 matches in all competitions since the end of the World Cup, having been unbeaten in all 22 games before the break.

Messi is in talks with PSG about extending his contract, but Barcelona have also approached him about a return to the club where he spent the bulk of his career. He has scored 29 goals in 67 games for the club.

The visitors scored either side of half-time with Karl Toko Ekambi firing them in front before Arnaud Kalimuendo added a second three minutes after the break.

PSG saw their unbeaten league run at the Parc des Princes ended at 35 games.

Reims also saw their 19-match unbeaten run stopped by defeat to Marseille.

They had last lost a league match in September in a 3-0 loss to Monaco.

Reims, managed by Belgian-born Englishman Will Still, took the lead through Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun in the 13th minute.

But two first-half goals from Alexis Sanchez gave Marseille a 2-1 win with Balogun striking the post in second-half injury time.

Christophe Galtier’s PSG side are seven points clear of Marseille at the top of the table as they head towards an 11th title in 13 years.

Meanwhile, Rennes – who are just the third side to get the double over Paris St-Germain since Qatar Sports Investments bought the club in 2011 – sit fifth, four points off Monaco in fourth and seven off third-placed Lens.

PSG had been 2-0 ahead and 3-2 behind after goals from Lille’s Bafode Diakite, Jonathan David and Jonathan Bamba transformed the match.

Kylian Mbappe, who opened the scoring, grabbed his second in the 87th minute to give PSG hope of victory.

Messi then won it in dramatic fashion with a 22-yard free-kick.

Despite the win, PSG’s main concern will be for Brazil forward Neymar after the 31-year-old, a goalscorer in the first half, was kicked on his calf and then went over badly on his right ankle five minutes into the second half.

He looked in great pain with his hands over his face as he was carried off at the Parc des Princes.

PSG end three-game losing run in dramatic style

The result means PSG are eight points clear at the top of Ligue 1, although second-placed Marseille will cut the gap to five if they win at mid-table Toulouse later on Sunday (19:45 GMT).

PSG came into this match on a three-game losing run following a 2-1 loss to Marseille in the last 16 of the French Cup, a 3-1 Ligue 1 defeat by Monaco and a 1-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

But they looked in complete control against Lille and were 2-0 ahead after only 17 minutes.

Mbappe showed great skill to jink past Tiago Djalo and Diakite to score the first goal, before Neymar doubled the advantage, scoring from a rebound after Vitinha’s effort bounced off goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

But Lille, beaten 7-1 at home by PSG in August, pulled one back through Diakite’s 24th-minute glancing header.

PSG had already lost left-back Nuno Mendes to injury before Neymar was carried off.

David’s penalty, following a foul by Marco Verratti, made it 2-2 and Bamba’s powerful strike put the visitors ahead in the 69th minute.

However, Lille could not hang on. Mbappe hit a low shot into the corner with three minutes of normal time to go for his 15th Ligue 1 goal of the season, before Messi’s late winner provided the final piece of drama in this seven-goal thriller.

PSG are next in action on 26 February, when they play title rivals Marseille away from home.

Aleksandr Golovin and Wissam Ben Yedder struck early to give Monaco a two-goal lead after 18 minutes before Warren Zaire-Emery reduced the deficit.

Ben Yedder restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time, and PSG – who were missing the injured Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe – were not able to mount a comeback.

It took the hosts just four minutes to open the scoring, Ben Yedder feeding Golovin who finished with aplomb.

With PSG rattled defensively, El Chadaille Bithsiabu was then robbed by Krepin Diatta close to his box and provider Ben Yedder turned scorer as he made him pay with an arrowed shot to the far corner.

Christophe Galtier’s charges gave themselves hope when Zaire-Emery, who recently became PSG’s youngest-ever goalscorer at the age of just 16, tapped home Juan Bernat’s cross at the far post.

But Monaco had been by far the superior team and thoroughly deserved their two-goal cushion as Ben Yedder grabbed his 14th league goal of the season after latching onto Salim Ben Seghir’s pass, holding off Bernat and firing past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma on the stroke of half-time.

With Neymar struggling to make an impact in the final third, PSG couldn’t make any in-roads in their attempts to stage a comeback. In fact, Monaco looked the more dangerous and would have made it 4-1 only for Donnarumma, who made a superb reflex save to prevent Sergio Ramos from putting the ball into his own net and also denied Breel Embolo from close range.

Indeed, PSG’s goalkeeper was the only visiting player who came out with any real credit, making his seventh save of the match to keep out Takumi Minamino’s effort with his trailing leg in stoppage-time.

The victory sees Monaco climb from fourth to second, ahead of Marseille and Lens who are yet to play this weekend.

PSG, who were without Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti, have lost twice in four days.

Wissam Ben Yedder set up Aleksandr Golovin for Monaco’s first goal, adding two more himself in a dominant win.

PSG host Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

Top-scorer Mbappe is already out of the first leg at Parc des Princes with a thigh injury and PSG coach Christophe Galtier will hope Messi recovers in time from the hamstring problem that ruled him out of the trip to Monaco.

A youthful PSG side trailed 2-0 after 18 minutes and although 16-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery pulled one back, Ben Yedder scored his 19th goal of the season to secure victory in first-half added time.

France defender Kimpembe was replaced as vice-captain by Mbappe last month.

Reigning champions PSG remain top of the table, seven points ahead of Monaco, who moved up to second with the victory.

PSG have now lost three of their seven league matches in 2023, with this latest defeat coming after they were knocked out of the French Cup by Marseille on Wednesday.

Messi, 35, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, is out of contract at the French club in June 2023.

Earlier this week Barcelona president Joan Laporta said he “would love” Messi to return to the Spanish club where he spent 21 years.

But Balague says Barca have not approached Messi about a return.

He will sign a one-year deal with the option of another year and the agreement has come after four months of talks between PSG director of football Luis Campos and Messi’s father Jorge.

That was followed by a key meeting in Doha with PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

“It is practically all agreed with PSG,” says European football expert Balague. “Barcelona have not approached him or his dad to offer anything.

“So it is not that Messi does not want to return to Barcelona. He has not been asked the question.

“Messi is happy with it all and when back from his holidays the agreement will speed up.

“His life in Paris is balanced, happy, everybody is enjoying it and he has a real possibility of winning the Champions League again. Plus, it will help him be a candidate again for the Ballon d’Or.”

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was named player of the tournament at the World Cup as Argentina won the title for the third time with a penalty shoot-out victory over France.

After leaving Barcelona, Messi signed a two-year contract as a free agent, with the option of a third year, in 2021.

He has made 53 appearances for the Ligue 1 side so far, scoring 23 goals in all competitions.

The Argentine has now won one World Cup, four Champions League titles, one Copa America, 10 La Liga trophies with Barcelona and a Ligue 1 crown in France with PSG.

Considered one of the greatest players of all time, he scored a record 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, the club he joined as a 13-year-old.

He ended his association with the Catalan club in 2021 when they could no longer afford to honour the new contract they agreed with him because of La Liga’s salary limit.

The former Tottenham boss originally signed a deal until 2022 when the 49-year-old took charge in January.

Pochettino, who captained PSG as a player from 2001 until 2003, had been linked with a return to Spurs before Nuno Espirito Santo’s appointment.

“I’m really very happy, for myself and also for my staff,” said Pochettino.

“It’s very important for us to feel the confidence of the club and we will give our maximum so that the supporters are proud of Paris St-Germain.

“That’s why we will try and reach our objectives all together, as one. Twenty years ago I was captain of this club and today I am the coach. It’s a dream come true.”

Last season Pochettino led PSG to the Champions League semi-finals where they were knocked out by Manchester City, and they were beaten to the Ligue 1 title by Lille.

However, PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi is confident Pochettino is the right man to lead the club to more success.

“We are delighted that Mauricio has reaffirmed his commitment to the Paris St-Germain family,” he said.

“Having also captained the team 20 years ago, he understands the club values, ambition and vision for the future. With Mauricio’s leadership, we’re excited and confident about what the future holds.”

The 22-year-old joins PSG after being named the player of the tournament as Italy won Euro 2020 on Sunday.

He saved two penalties as the Azzurri beat England in a shootout.

Donnarumma, who has signed a five-year deal at PSG, announced earlier this week he was leaving AC Milan after his contract expired.

“I am very happy to be part of this great club,” he said.

“I feel ready to take on this new challenge and continue to grow here.

“With Paris, I want to win as much as possible and give joy to the supporters.”

Donnarumma has 33 caps for Italy and has been their first-choice keeper under head coach Roberto Mancini.

He made 251 appearances for Milan in all competitions after earning his debut at the age of 16.

He played in all but one of the club’s Serie A games in 2020-21, helping them finish second and securing a return to the Champions League after a seven-year absence.

AC Milan have already signed a replacement for Donnarumma in France’s Mike Maignan, who helped Lille beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title last season.

PSG, managed by former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, were beaten by Manchester City in the semi-finals of last year’s Champions League, having been runners-up to Bayern Munich the year before.

Donnarumma is PSG’s third free transfer signing this summer, with Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, 30, joining after leaving Liverpool and 35-year-old Spain defender Sergio Ramos, moving after his Real Madrid contract ended.

PSG have also signed Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi, 22, from Inter Milan on a five-year deal.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said they are “pleased to welcome” Donnarumma to the club and congratulated him on his Euro 2020 successes.

He added: “Gianluigi will receive a warm welcome from everyone at the club, including his teammates, our staff and all the Parisian supporters.”