Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele is in line to make his return from injury for Paris Saint Germain against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, a source close to the club told AFP on Monday.

The news will come as a welcome boost for PSG coach Luis Enrique, whose side has been struggling with injuries this season.

Dembele, 28, has been out for six weeks with a hamstring problem he suffered on international duty with France in early September.

He had been recuperating at a specialist clinic in Qatar and returned to training last week.

He missed out on PSG's entertaining 3-3 draw against Strasbourg on Friday but is part of the first team squad for Tuesday's match in Germany, the source said.

 

🚨 📃 | PSG’s squad v Bayer Leverkusen:

Ousmane Dembele & Marquinhos have recovered from their injuries and have returned to the squad. 🇫🇷🇧🇷🔙

Fabian Ruiz & João Neves are absent from the squad. 🇪🇸🇵🇹❌#B04PSG I #UCL pic.twitter.com/MoKWlRNLDj

— PSG Report (@PSG_Report) October 20, 2025

 

PSG published images of Dembele training normally on Saturday.

The reigning European and French champions welcomed back forwards Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was a substitute, against Strasbourg.

They are, however, still missing midfield duo Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, although some media have reported that captain Marquinhos has travelled to Germany with the squad.

"I don't know when the injured players will return," Luis Enrique had said on Thursday, adding that the club did not want to "take risks with the players' health".

They have made a strong start to their Champions League defence, beating Atalanta and Barcelona in their opening two matches, while Leverkusen drew with FC Copenhagen and PSV Eindhoven.

Nice produced a clinical 3-2 win at home to Lyon on Saturday as they denied the visitors the chance to go top of Ligue 1.

Victory for Paulo Fonseca's Lyon would have seen them leapfrog champions Paris Saint-Germain at the summit but instead a frustrating one-goal loss condemned them to remain fourth on 15 points.

Nice defeat Lyon in an entertaining duel! 🦅✨ pic.twitter.com/vfYtQ0luKH

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2025

PSG drew 3-3 at home to second-placed Strasbourg on Friday, offering the chance to rivals Marseille and Lyon to take first place.

Marseille, third, host lowly Le Havre later on Saturday.

Melvin Bard gave eighth-placed Nice the lead with five minutes on the clock as he fired a fine first-time finish past Dominik Greif after racing onto Sofiane Diop's inviting ball across the box from the right flank.

The away side levelled just shy of the half-hour when Pavel Sulc nodded in a flick-on from a corner.

Diop restored the hosts' lead in the 35th minute with what was just their second shot on target of the match.

The danger again came from the right-hand side as a flighted ball was headed back across the six-yard box by Mohamed-Ali Cho and the Moroccan tucked home from a tight angle.

Lyon were awarded a spot-kick shortly after half-time but former Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles failed to beat goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf from 12 yards as Nice were let off.

The home side immediately took advantage of the reprieve as midfielder Hicham Boudaoui finished a breakaway with an unerring strike that curved away from Greif and into the Slovakian's far corner on 55 minutes.

Too much talent in one picture 🤩

Khalis Merah & Ayyoub Bouaddi ✨ pic.twitter.com/bQTYV2KeGT

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 18, 2025

Sulc headed in his second of the match for Lyon five minutes into added time, but Nice held firm to see out the three points.

Elsewhere on Saturday, fifth-placed Monaco travel to second-last Angers.

Paris Saint-Germain produced a second-half fightback to draw 3-3 with an impressive Strasbourg on Friday as Luis Enrique's injury-hit side held on to top spot in Ligue 1.

Bradley Barcola gave reigning French and European champions PSG an early advantage at the Parc des Princes, but Strasbourg came roaring back to lead 3-1 thanks to a Joaquin Panichelli double and a Diego Moreira goal.

However, Goncalo Ramos converted a penalty and then Senny Mayulu equalised for PSG, who avoided what would have been a second defeat already in eight domestic outings this season.

PSG and Strasbourg share the points in Paris 🤝

Marseille can move to the top of #Ligue1 with a win on Saturday 👀#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/LZI6kttuG2

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 17, 2025

"Strasbourg are without any doubt one of the best teams in Ligue 1, so we knew how difficult it was going to be," said Luis Enrique, who nevertheless insisted that he had no choice but to rest several key players who had just returned from international duty.

Achraf Hakimi and Vitinha were unused substitutes, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was among those only brought on in the second half.

PSG stayed top of the table, a point clear of Strasbourg after denying the Alsace team what would have been a first ever win for them in 35 top flight attempts away to the Parisians.

The result nevertheless means Marseille and Lyon can now each climb above PSG and Strasbourg with wins on Saturday – OM are at home to Le Havre while Lyon travel to Nice.

"Our objective is to be in a position to win every competition but that will be very difficult," the Spanish coach added.

"We still need to get three or four important players back but I think it was a good performance from those who played."

Bradley Barcola strikes inside the opening ten for PSG ⚽💥

📺 Stream #Ligue1 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/PaHfx9hdl3

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 17, 2025

PSG were still without Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury picked up playing for France last month.

Captain Marquinhos was also sidelined along with midfield duo Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves, although a largely second-string Paris side did welcome back Desire Doue after a month and a half out.

PANICHELLI DOUBLE

Doue set up Barcola's opener and also won the penalty which allowed Ramos to score the hosts' second goal on the night.

PSG went in front in the sixth minute when Barcola exchanged passes with Doue as he burst into the area and fired in his fourth goal of the season.

Strasbourg, who beat the Parisians 2-1 at home last May, were back level on 26 minutes when Guela Doue – Desire's elder brother – crossed from the right and Argentine striker Panichelli scored with a towering header.

6' PSG 1-0 Strasbourg
➖
41' PSG 1-2 Strasbourg

Goals from Panichelli and Moreira put the visitors ahead at half-time ⚪🔥

📺 Stream #Ligue1 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQWD1K#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/gFLCdfI3Kz

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 17, 2025

The visitors then went ahead just prior to the interval as Valentin Barco lifted a pass over the top of the home defence for Belgian Under-21 international Moreira to finish past goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

Moreira then turned provider for Panichelli to make it 3-1 shortly after the restart, with the summer signing scoring his seventh goal already in just eight Ligue 1 appearances.

Strasbourg have three 🤯

Luis Enrique has some thinking to do in the PSG dugout 🧠

📺 Stream #Ligue1 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/6IOveyFY6h

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 17, 2025

Yet PSG, who were beaten in Marseille last month, won a spot-kick when Doue was brought down by goalkeeper Mike Penders and Ramos made no mistake with the penalty.

Lee Kang-in cracked a shot off the post before setting up Mayulu's leveller 11 minutes from time, as the 19-year-old saw his initial shot saved by Penders but headed in the follow-up.

We've got a six-goal thriller in Paris 🤩

PSG turn it around to equalise with ten minutes to play ⚽

📺 Stream #Ligue1 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQWD1K#SSFootball pic.twitter.com/ycAHkH07wk

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 17, 2025

The Champions League title-holders now turn their attentions back to their European campaign and a trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday – they have already beaten Atalanta and Barcelona in the competition this season.

Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg meanwhile face Jagiellonia Bialystok of Poland in the UEFA Conference League next week.

"I just wanted us to walk off tonight and be proud of who we are and we certainly did that," said Englishman Rosenior.

"We were playing against the best team in the world, full stop. I think they are a credit to this league and I think the game was a credit to this league."

Other Ligue 1 action this weekend includes Monaco travelling to Angers on Saturday, when new Belgian coach Sebastien Pocognoli will take charge of the principality side for the first time.

Ligue 1 McDonald’s matches will now be available live on SuperSport to DStv, DStv Stream and GOtv subscribers across the continent, starting with Uefa Champions League holders PSG v RC Strasbourg on Friday, 17 October 2025 at 20:45 (CAT).

SuperSport is proud to announce that select French Ligue 1 McDonald’s football matches will now be available in English on Your World of Champions, through the league’s broadcast partnership with CANAL+, new owner of SuperSport.

Viewers can start experiencing a first glimpse of French league on Friday, 17 October 2025, starting with the Uefa Champions League champions and Fifa Club World Cup finalists, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), taking on RC Strasbourg at 20:45 (CAT).

SuperSport viewers will this month also get to see some traditional big French clubs such as Monaco, Marseille and Lyon.

SuperSport will broadcast up to three Ligue 1 McDonald’s matches per weekend, bringing iconic French players such as Ballon d'or Winner Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué to millions of African screens

 

📍 Parc des Princes
⌚️ 8:45pm CEST
👉 #PSGRCSA pic.twitter.com/vPs7tUIJ8V

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) October 17, 2025

 

Rendani Ramovha, Director of Sport Content English, and Portuguese-speaking Africa for MultiChoice, (a CANAL+ company), said: “SuperSport is proud to add to its array of explosive football action and entertainment for our viewers across Africa, through the CANAL+ partnership with Ligue 1 McDonald’s."

"We know how much football is loved across the continent, and broadcasting a prestigious league such as Ligue 1 only adds to the value that our subscribers receive. The calibre of football talent now available on SuperSport speaks for itself, and we are thrilled to add the French League to our premium sports catalogue.”

For full broadcast information, please check your TV Guide, follow @SuperSportFootball and @SuperSporttv on all your social media platforms or visit SuperSport.com

(Note: Not available on Showmax packages)

Matches on SuperSport in October (All times CAT):

Fri 17 Oct:

20:45 - PSG v Strasbourg on SuperSport Football / SuperSport GOtv Football

Sat 18 Oct:

21:05 - Marseille v Le Havre on SuperSport Variety 3 / SuperSport Africa 1/ GO Africa 1

Sun 19 Oct:

20:45 – Nantes v Lille on SuperSport Variety 3 / Action A.

Fri 24 Oct

20:45 – Paris FC v Nantes on SuperSport Variety 3 / Africa 2 / GO Africa 2

Sat 25 Oct

17:00 – Brest v PSG on Events SA (Ch 199) / SuperSport Africa 1 / GOtv Africa 1

21:05 – Lens v Marseille SuperSport Football / SuperSport Football Africa / SuperSport GOtv Football

Sun 26 Oct

21:05 - Lyon v Strasbourg on Variety 3 / Football A/ GO Football

Wed 29 Oct

20:00 – Lorient v PSG on SuperSport Variety 1 / Africa 1 / GOtv Africa 1

22:05 – Nantes v Monaco on SuperSport Variety 1 / Africa 1 / GOtv Africa 1

Monaco's new coach Sebastien Pocognoli is looking to take inspiration from his old boss Louis van Gaal as he tries to kickstart the Ligue 1 club's season after a sluggish start to the campaign that cost his predecessor his job.

Austrian coach Adi Huetter was fired last week with Monaco having won just one of their last five matches – a run which includes a 4-1 hammering by Club Brugge in the Champions League, and a 3-1 domestic defeat at newly-promoted Lorient.

It was an alarming drop in form for a team that came third in Ligue 1 last season and had been hoping to produce a more credible domestic challenge to Paris Saint-Germain while also making an impression in Europe.

Huetter, who had been in charge since July 2023, has been replaced by the relatively inexperienced Pocognoli, a 38-year-old former Belgian international lured from Union Saint-Gilloise.

"I am going to come with principles, which must match those of Monaco because that is why they chose me," Pocognoli said at his unveiling.

"I like the fact that the club showed an interest in a young coach, and I think such an approach is daring in itself," added Pocognoli, who played under Van Gaal in the AZ Alkmaar side that won the Dutch title in 2009.

"I felt better every day with him, and when he left I felt less good.

"That means he was a very good coach and it made me realise that a coach can really have an impact on the development of players."

 

AS Monaco is pleased to announce the arrival of Sébastien Pocognoli as head coach ✍️

The 38-year-old Belgian coach has signed a contract binding him to the Red & Whites until June 2027. pic.twitter.com/0ImuqUvuJT

— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) October 11, 2025

 

A former Standard Liege, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton left-back, Pocognoli had not coached at senior level until last season, when he led the Brussels club to their first Belgian title in 90 years.

He has given up the chance to pursue a Champions League campaign with them in order to sign a deal until 2027 with Monaco, where he will be assisted by ex-Everton and Belgium striker Kevin Mirallas.

He takes over a Monaco side hardly lacking in talent, including new France international Maghnes Akliouche, Japan star Takumi Minamino, England's Eric Dier and on-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati.

Pocognoli also has the long-awaited return to fitness of Paul Pogba to look forward to.

The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder is still to make his debut after signing in the close season as he builds up fitness following a long spell out of action due to injury and a doping ban.

He is not expected to be ready for at least two more weeks, and in the meantime Pocognoli's debut on the bench will come at Angers on Saturday.

Monaco then return to Champions League action on Wednesday when Tottenham Hotspur visit the Stade Louis II.

They are currently fifth in the table after seven games, only three points behind leaders PSG, and held Manchester City to a 2-2 draw in their last Champions League outing.

Player to watch: Joaquin Panichelli

The tall 23-year-old Argentinian striker has wasted no time making an impression at Strasbourg since moving to France in the close season.

He has five goals in his first seven Ligue 1 appearances and it appears that Strasbourg already have the long-term successor to captain Emmanuel Emegha, who will move to Chelsea next season.

Panichelli, who began his career at River Plate, moved to Alsace in July from LaLiga side Alaves in a deal worth a reported €20 million ($23.3m).

He had hardly played in the Spanish top flight but netted 21 times last season on loan at second-tier outfit Mirandes.

Key stats

34 - PSG have never lost in 34 previous home meetings with Strasbourg in the top flight

7 - Marseille have recorded seven straight home wins in Ligue 1, their best run in over a decade

6 - The number of goals scored by Ansu Fati in just five appearances for Monaco

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Paris Saint-Germain v Strasbourg (6:45pm)

Saturday

Nice v Lyon (3pm), Angers v Monaco (5pm), Marseille v Le Havre (7:05pm)

Sunday

Lens v Paris FC (1pm), Toulouse v Metz, Rennes v Auxerre, Lorient v Brest (all 3:15pm), Nantes v Lille (6:45pm)

French Ligue 1 club Monaco appointed Sebastien Pocognoli as their new head coach on Saturday following the surprise sacking of Adi Huetter in midweek.

The 38-year-old Pocognoli led Union Saint-Gilloise to the Belgian title last season, and inherits a Monaco side three points off the top of Ligue 1 and with one point from two Champions League games.

"Sebastien Pocognoli arrives in Monaco on the back of a highly successful spell in the Belgian Pro League with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, where he stood out by combining strong results with an ambitious and attractive style of play," Monaco said in a statement.

Pocognoli led Union SG to their first league title in 90 years, finishing ahead of Club Brugge.

Pocognoli's first game in charge will be a league trip to Angers in a week's time, before hosting Tottenham four days later in the Champions League.

Austrian Huetter was sacked on Thursday after a run of just one win in five matches.

Coach Adi Hutter has left AS Monaco after more than two years in charge, the Ligue 1 side said on Friday, after the club registered only one win in their last five matches in all competitions.

French media reported that Sebastien Pocognoli, manager at Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, was set to replace the former Austria international as the Monaco coach.

Hutter guided Monaco to top-three finishes in the previous two seasons, but the club made a mixed start to the 2025-26 season, suffering a 4-1 thrashing at Club Brugge in the Champions League before a 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

Last weekend's 2-2 Ligue 1 derby draw with 10-man Nice left Monaco fifth, three points below leaders Paris St Germain.

"We didn’t find the right solutions to find the final goal. I am not 100 per cent satisfied," Hutter said after Sunday's draw.

Monaco visit Angers in their next Ligue 1 match on October 18, before hosting Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on October 22.

Kylian Mbappe's brother Ethan haunted his former club Paris Saint-Germain as he came off the bench to grab a late leveller for Lille in Ligue 1 on Sunday, while Lyon went down to a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Toulouse.

The 1-1 draw at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy was, however, enough for injury-plagued PSG to go one point clear at the top of the French league.

A much-changed PSG side made the trip north and substitute Nuno Mendes's sublime second-half free-kick looked to have secured all three points for the reigning champions until 18-year-old Mbappe had the last laugh.

"We prioritised the players' health... It's been a difficult week. After the match in Barcelona (in the Champions League), we're feeling the fatigue," said PSG coach Luis Enrique of his starting XI.

A first half short on goalscoring opportunities culminated in Bradley Barcola passing up a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock for PSG as he raced through on goal from distance but fluffed his finish.

The hosts started the second period the brighter with 39-year-old Olivier Giroud launching himself at an ambitious overhead kick before Nabil Bentaleb fired into Lucas Chevalier's gloves.

Lee Kang-in and Barcola riposted for PSG as the encounter started to become less cagey.

Luis Enrique made a slew of changes on the hour and was rewarded six minutes later as usual first-choice left-back Mendes whipped a fantastic free-kick into the top corner from 30 yards.

Mbappe then entered the field of play under the watchful eye of his older brother Kylian, now of Real Madrid and who was up in the stands, with eight minutes remaining.

Achraf Hakimi, also off the bench, could have put the match beyond Lille in the 83rd minute but fired wide when well-positioned.

But the headlines went to Mbappe, who two minutes later cut inside on his left foot and fired a shot through the legs of Lucas Beraldo, which flashed beyond the unsighted Chevalier.

"Ethan has character, good self-confidence, and also qualities for the highest level," said Lille boss Bruno Genesio.

Lille trail PSG by five points in seventh spot.

'CRUEL RESULT' 

New arrival Emersonn opened his account for Lyon with a brace, including nodding in a 96th-minute winner, as Toulouse fought back to beat Lyon 2-1.

Paulo Fonseca's side went into the weekend's action level on points with PSG at the top of the table but now find themselves fourth after being sucker-punched by Toulouse.

Lyon looked set to go provisionally clear at the top when Malick Fofana put the hosts ahead on 24 minutes.

Brazilian forward Emersonn entered the fray off the bench inside the final 20 minutes to flip the game on its head and bring Toulouse up to ninth on 10 points.

The 21-year-old summer signing from Turkish side Goztepe scored his first for Toulouse in the 87th minute with a deflected effort.

The winner came in the sixth minute of injury time as Emersonn rose highest to glance home a corner.

Lyon assistant coach Jorge Maciel said it was "a cruel but not surprising result".

"It's not enough... We can never be satisfied with a 1-0 lead. We can't take our foot off the gas and give our opponents opportunities," the Portuguese added.

Elsewhere, Cote d'Azur rivals Monaco and Nice played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the principality.

Sofiane Diop gave the 12th-placed visitors the lead on 29 minutes, before Nice went down to 10 men five minutes later as Ali Abdi saw red for two bookable offences.

Diop nonetheless doubled Nice's lead in the 42nd minute from the penalty spot but the fifth-placed hosts fought back through two Ansu Fati spot-kicks to finish honours even.

Strasbourg thumped 17th-placed Angers 5-0 to go third, level on 15 points with second-placed Marseille and Lyon.

Rennes were held to a 2-2 draw at Le Havre, despite being two goals ahead inside the opening half-hour.

Marseille climbed to the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Metz which left coach Roberto De Zerbi purring over his side's form after four straight wins.

Victory moved Marseille onto 15 points, ahead of champions Paris Saint-Germain and surprise packages Lyon on goal difference with the latter two still to play this weekend.

Abdallah Sima scored with virtually the last kick of the match to hand 10-man Lens a 2-1 victory at Auxerre and move the northerners up to fourth.

Rock bottom Metz parked the bus in the first half but Marseille poured forwards after the break with Brazilian dynamo Igor Paixao breaking the deadlock on 51 minutes, while Matt O'Riley on 69 minutes and Amine Gouiri two minutes after that secured the three points.

"These are the kind of matches we were losing last year, we've matured and the team is much stronger now," said De Zerbi.

"I'm very happy.

"This is my best period since I took over Marseille," the Italian coach, who joined from Brighton in June 2024 and led OM to the runners-up spot last season, added.

Marseille had a rocky start to the season with a dressing room fight after an opening day slump paving the way for star midfielder Adrien Rabiot to be transfer listed, before joining AC Milan.

De Zerbi described the altercation between Rabiot and English winger Jonathan Rowe – who moved to Bologna – as being like a bar room brawl.

Before Saturday's romp over bottom side Metz, Marseille beat Ajax 4-0 in the Champions League after wins over PSG and Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

Marseille, who last won the title in 2010, also climbed top briefly last Friday after their 2-1 come-from-behind win at Strasbourg.

Lens took an early lead at the Stade de l'Abbe-Deschamps through former Crystal Palace forward Odsonne Edouard.

Francisco Sierralta equalised for the lowly hosts just after the hour mark and when centre-back Piere-Ismaelo Ganiou was sent off with 17 minutes to play, Lens's hopes of victory seemed slim.

But Sima had the last word.

In the day's other match Brest and Nantes played out a goalless draw.

PSG, who have won Ligue 1 in the last four years, travel to Lille on Sunday while Lyon host Toulouse, with either able to take over top spot if they avoid defeat.

Paris Saint-Germain are fresh from a fine Champions League win in Barcelona, but there are signs that this season might present the best opportunity in a long time for someone else to win the Ligue 1 title.

PSG have almost totally dominated French football in the years since being taken over by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011, winning 11 of the last 13 championships.

Their revenue – the third-largest in world football last year according to Deloitte's Football Money League at 806 million euros ($947m) – dwarfs every other club in the country.

But an epic 2024/25 campaign has taken a lot out of Luis Enrique's side.

Crowned by their maiden Champions League triumph, it also featured a domestic treble and a run to the Club World Cup final, but the season lasted 11 months and 65 games.

That has caught up with them, with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele one of a host of players currently injured.

PSG do not have a huge squad and retaining the European Cup has to be their primary aim. A recent 1-0 defeat in Marseille proved they are not invincible.

The Parisians are presently only above Lyon atop Ligue 1 on goal difference, while Marseille, Monaco and Strasbourg sit within three points.

"It is normal to lose a few matches over the course of a season," insisted Luis Enrique after the defeat in Marseille, and the fact PSG won the title by 19 points last season confirms how big their margin over the rest of the league is.

A different champion would be a much-needed breath of fresh air, but can anyone step up to bridge the gap?

Marseille are best-placed. Roberto De Zerbi's team followed beating PSG with an impressive victory last weekend in Strasbourg and then hammered Ajax in the Champions League.

They have a large squad – De Zerbi has used 28 players this season, compared to PSG's 22 – and a fiery coach who is able to harness the heated atmosphere of their Stade Velodrome in the team's favour.

"It is understandable that there should be more expectation on us after we beat Paris. That doesn't bring any pressure or anxiety," De Zerbi said last week.

It remains to be seen, though, if they can maintain the consistency required over the long run to seriously push PSG.

Monaco's flaws are obvious, with a leaky defence and a lack of options in midfield.

Strasbourg are exciting but very young, surely lacking the experience needed for a title challenge.

Then there is Lyon, who have enjoyed a fantastic start, with five wins and five clean sheets in six games.

But financial problems have probably left them with too small a squad to maintain that form for the duration.

PLAYER TO WATCH: ANSU FATI

The Spain winger, 22, joined Monaco on loan with the aim of kick-starting a career which had stalled at Barcelona due to injuries.

Before Lamine Yamal emerged, Fati was seen as Lionel Messi's successor. He made his Barca debut aged 16 and went on to become the youngest goal-scorer in Champions League history and for Spain.

But Fati started just three games for Barcelona last season and clearly needed a change.

The early signs at Monaco are promising, with four goals in three games before he started in Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw with Manchester City.

"He is a big name and he wants to be influential at Monaco," said his coach Adi Huetter.

Key stats

60 - De Zerbi has won 60 percent of his Ligue 1 matches with Marseille (24 out of 40).

11 - Monaco have let in 11 goals in their last four games in all competitions heading into the Cote d'Azur derby against Nice.

100 - Vitinha is in line to make his 100th Ligue 1 appearance for PSG since joining the club in 2022.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Paris FC v Lorient (1845)

Saturday

Metz v Marseille (1500), Brest v Nantes (1700), Auxerre v Lens (1905)

Sunday

Lyon v Toulouse (1300), Monaco v Nice, Strasbourg v Angers, Le Havre v Rennes (all 1515), Lille v Paris Saint-Germain (1845)

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest ever Ballon d'Or winner last week at 18, and Wednesday's Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain offers the ideal opportunity to begin stating his case for next year.

PSG star Ousmane Dembele won the award for the best player in the world but is out injured and will miss the match at the Olympic stadium, leaving runner-up Yamal the floor.

Last season it was the then 17-year-old who inspired Barcelona's charge to the semifinals, and despite two outstanding displays against Inter Milan, Hansi Flick's side fell just short.

They missed out on facing PSG in the final, as the French side crushed Inter to claim their first Champions League trophy.

Yamal pledged he would bring the cup to Barcelona, who have not won it since 2015 and the days of Lionel Messi.

Despite Yamal's quality, already immense and still increasing, Barcelona have improved without him last season.

In the 2024/25 campaign they struggled when he was absent, depending far too much on him, but they have just won five games in a row, the first four of those without the teenager.

Yamal was sidelined with a groin issue but on his return against Real Sociedad on Sunday in LaLiga made an instant impact when introduced in the 58th minute.

The right winger burst into the box and crossed for Robert Lewandowski to head home the winner, little over a minute after entering the fray.

It was the perfect way to reintroduce himself, shaking the crowd out of their stupor.

"(Just) his presence on the pitch is a threat," said Real Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco. "He's showing every day he's the best player in the world. It's a treat to watch him."

Yamal's impact against Real Sociedad was also a tonic for the club during a difficult week. They lost Joan Garcia and Raphinha to injury, the duo joining recently hurt duo Fermin Lopez and Gavi on the sidelines.

Barcelona were also denied permission to return to their renovated Camp Nou home by the city council, despite hopes they could host the La Real game there.

"I'm happy to have him back, he showed it directly, his outstanding strength he has to create chances, to give the last pass. It's good to have him back," said Flick.

'CLIMB TO GET TO THE TOP'

Despite his age, Yamal has made over 100 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 27 goals, and winning two LaLiga titles since his debut at 15 in 2023.

The Spain international, who won Euro 2024 with his country the day after his 17th birthday, is often compared to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and Barcelona all-time great Lionel Messi.

Yamal inherited his iconic number 10 shirt at the start of this season, also worn by Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho among other historic Barca stars.

Only time will tell whether Yamal will be able to reproduce Messi's longevity, but thus far he has risen to meet every challenge he has faced since his debut at just 15.

The Argentine did not win the Ballon d'Or until he was 22, with Brazil great Ronaldo the youngest ever winner at 21.

Yamal may have missed out this year, but if he wins the award in 2026 or 2027, he will still claim that record, as he has done so many others.

"You have to climb to get to the top," said Yamal on Instagram after missing out in Paris, and facing PSG may be the first rung on the ladder.

Paris Saint-Germain face their biggest test of the season so far when the Champions League title-holders visit Barcelona this week, but Luis Enrique's side come into the game in the midst of an injury crisis affecting several of their biggest stars.

The headline absentee is Ousmane Dembele, fresh from winning the Ballon d'Or last week as recognition for his magnificent 2024/25 campaign, in which the France winger scored 35 goals.

How Dembele would have loved to come up against the Catalans, the club he left in 2023 after six years in which he showed moments of brilliance but struggled for consistency – and with injuries.

The 28-year-old could have taken on Lamine Yamal, the teenager who he pipped to the Ballon d'Or award but who did win the Kopa Trophy for the best player in the world last season aged under 21.

But Dembele is still recovering from a thigh injury picked up on international duty with France at the beginning of the month, and is not expected back for at least another couple of weeks.

"It is going well. I will be back very soon," Dembele told French television after taking the acclaim of the PSG support with the Ballon d'Or trophy following Saturday's 2-0 win against Auxerre.

Coach Luis Enrique has also been missing Desire Doue, the thrilling 20-year-old attacker who finished second to Yamal in the Kopa Trophy ranking – he has not played since suffering a calf injury on France duty at the same time as Dembele.

Then there is centre-back and captain Marquinhos and all-action Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves, who are nursing thigh and hamstring injuries respectively.

Playmaker Vitinha, third in the Ballon d'Or, came off before halftime at the weekend while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was withdrawn at the interval.

PSG's hope is that both players were taken off early enough to prevent any lasting damage, but suddenly Luis Enrique's options are being drastically reduced.

"We have to stay positive because we need to be able to manage this situation," the coach, a former Barcelona player and manager, said on Saturday after the win against Auxerre.

"Paris Saint-Germain are not the only team with injuries. It is the case for every team with such an intense calendar."

TOO MANY GAMES CATCHING UP

The Parisians played 65 games during 2024/25, in a season spanning 11 months. That included 17 matches in the Champions League and seven in the Club World Cup, where their marathon campaign concluded with a 3-0 loss to Chelsea in mid-July.

It seems the effort is catching up with individual players: Dembele has played 99 games for PSG since signing just over two years ago, and 20 for France over the same period.

Vitinha has made 113 appearances for PSG since the start of 2023/24 and 21 more for Portugal.

For PSG's star right-back Achraf Hakimi the figure over the same time is 131 games between club and country – and he has the Africa Cup of Nations coming up this season as well as the World Cup next year.

Luis Enrique needs to give these players more of a rest, and figures within football insist too many games damages the product.

"We think club owners are beginning to realise that this is bad for business," pointed out Alex Phillips, the secretary general of FifPro, last week.

A Champions League showdown between the Spanish champions and the reigning French and European champions is the sort of stage on which the newly-crowned best player on the planet should be featuring.

Instead PSG may need to dig deep into their resources, although their squad depth is being exposed as perhaps not as strong as it needed to be.

Despite that Luis Enrique's side head to Catalonia off the back of a big 4-0 win against Atalanta in their European opener a fortnight ago.

In any case, a defeat here may not prove to be a big setback in terms of achieving their main goal of reaching the knockout stage – after all, there will be more than enough games remaining in the league phase.

Lyon continued their fine start to the season with a 1-0 win at Lille on Sunday, sending them level on 15 points with champions Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1.

Summer signing from Liverpool, Tyler Morton, struck early to give Paulo Fonseca's side their fifth win from six outings to start the campaign.

They stay second on goal difference with PSG, who won 2-0 at home to Auxerre on Saturday.

A second consecutive defeat of the season leaves Lille sixth on 10 points.

The decisive moment at Stade Pierre-Mauroy came in the 13th minute when Morton nodded home from Nicolas Tagliafico's pinpoint cross.

The hosts fought to force their way back into the match but were unable to beat an in-form Dominik Greif in the Lyon goal.

Lille boss Bruno Genesio took his frustrations out on a water bottle, sending it close to the fourth official, and was dismissed from the touchline inside the final 20 minutes.

The Slovakian shotstopper then made an excellent save from Osame Sahraoui's powerful effort in the 90th minute to ensure Lyon claimed all three points in the north of France.

BREST BEAT ANGERS

Elsewhere, Brest climbed to ninth with a 2-0 win against 17th-placed Angers, while bottom-side Metz played out a goalless draw at home to Le Havre.

Nice drew 1-1 against Paris FC, with Jean-Philippe Krasso's 88th-minute penalty earning a point for the Parisians after Sofiane Diop's first-half opener for the hosts.

Later, Rennes welcome Lens in the final match of the day.

A much-changed Paris Saint-Germain warmed up for a Champions League showdown with Barcelona by easing to a 2-0 win over Auxerre on Saturday which took them back to the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Illia Zabarnyi got his first PSG goal since arriving from Bournemouth in the close season and fellow defender Lucas Beraldo also scored as the reigning French and European champions bounced back from a 1-0 defeat in Marseille last Monday.

The result allowed Luis Enrique's team, after six games this season, to move three points clear at the top of the table ahead of a quartet of clubs in Marseille, Monaco, Lyon and Strasbourg.

Marseille came from behind to win 2-1 in Strasbourg on Friday to go provisionally top with Amir Murillo scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. Monaco slumped to a 3-1 defeat away in Lorient earlier on Saturday.

Fresh from winning the Ballon d'Or earlier this week, Ousmane Dembele was among the PSG stars watching from the stands at the Parc des Princes as he continues his recovery from a thigh injury.

Desire Doue, captain Marquinhos and Joao Neves were also missing for Luis Enrique's team here, while stand-in captain Vitinha came off in the first half and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was replaced at halftime.

PSG will hope to have both players fit for the mouthwatering Champions League game in Barcelona on Wednesday, with their squad currently looking rather thin.

Teenagers Senny Mayulu and Ibrahim Mbaye were among the starters for PSG against Auxerre, while youngsters Quentin Ndjantou and Mathis Jangeal were given senior debuts off the bench in the second half.

Zabarnyi opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, applying a cushioned finish to a Vitinha cross following a short corner.

Brazilian centre-back Beraldo then headed home from a Mayulu cross early in the second half, leaving Auxerre with too much to do.

The visitors did have chances to reduce the deficit, however, with Kevin Danois crashing a shot against the post and Cameroon international Danny Namaso forcing a good save from home goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.

LEAKY MONACO LOSE AGAIN

Monaco played most of the game with 10 men in their defeat at Lorient after captain Thilo Kehrer was sent off for a second yellow card late in the first half in Brittany.

Lorient went ahead moments later courtesy of a Mohamed Bamba goal, and substitute Pablo Pagis then scored a late brace to make sure of a fine win for the newly-promoted hosts.

On-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati pulled one back for Monaco with a stoppage-time penalty, but his fourth goal in the last three games in all competitions was scant consolation.

The principality side – for whom Paul Pogba is yet to make his debut after arriving in the close season – have worryingly now let in nine goals in their last three matches as they prepare to host Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek.

Toulouse and Nantes drew 2-2 in Saturday's other game in the French top flight.

Monaco missed the chance to go back to the top of Ligue 1 on Saturday after playing most of the game with 10 men in a 3-1 defeat at Lorient, 24 hours after Marseille went to the summit by beating Strasbourg.

Captain Thilo Kehrer was sent off for a second yellow card late in the first half for Monaco in Brittany, and Lorient went ahead moments later courtesy of a Mohamed Bamba goal.

Substitute Pablo Pagis then scored a late brace to make sure of a fine win for newly-promoted Lorient, which lifts them into mid-table.

On-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati pulled one back for Monaco with a stoppage-time penalty, but his fourth goal in the last three games in all competitions was scant consolation.

Monaco could have reclaimed first place in the table at least provisionally by taking just a point from the game, having started the day as one of five teams locked on 12 points at the top of the table.

The principality side – for whom Paul Pogba is still yet to make his debut after arriving in the close season – have worryingly now let in nine goals in their last three matches as they prepare to host Manchester City in the Champions League in midweek.

Marseille came from behind to win 2-1 at Strasbourg on Friday with Amir Murillo scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time, meaning they top the standings on goal difference from Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Lyon and Strasbourg.

However PSG can go clear in the lead when they play Auxerre in the capital later, as they look to bounce back from suffering their first defeat of the campaign on Monday in a 1-0 loss at Marseille.

Amir Murillo scored late to send Marseille top of Ligue 1 on Friday with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Strasbourg just days after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

Abdoul Ouattara had put the hosts ahead four minutes after the break but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the equaliser after 78 minutes.

Murillo snatched the win in stoppage time as Roberto De Zerbi's side continued their positive momentum after snatching their first home league win over PSG in 14 years on Monday evening.

Marseille completes a crazy comeback on the road 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/g1tg7d349A

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 26, 2025

The win gave Marseille a timely boost ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game against Ajax Amsterdam and also put them top of the league on goal difference ahead of Monaco, Paris, Lyon and, indeed, Strasbourg, who all have 12 points.

In a tight match in the rain at the Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg's counterattacks and runs behind the defense caused Marseille real trouble and they thought they had taken the lead in the 18th minute when their lively skipper Emanuel Emegha fired home only to be flagged for offside.

5 matches. 3 goals. 1 assist. 🇬🇦

He’s back. AUBACK. ❤️‍🔥 pic.twitter.com/dgSKZLeBGE

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 26, 2025

There was almost a repeat performance four minutes into the second half when Emegha laid the ball on for half-time substitute Ouattara to score. The goal was initially ruled out for offside before VAR intervened to validate the goal.

That was the cue, though, for the home side to change tactics, looking simply to hold on to their lead and inviting Marseille to roam forward.

It cost them dearly as Aubameyang levelled in the 78th minute, latching on to a rebound after goalkeeper Mike Penders, on loan from Chelsea, failed to cling on to the initial shot.

Both sides had chances late in the game before Murillo scored the winner, pouncing on another rebound, this time after Penders had brilliantly tipped Robinio Vaz's header onto the crossbar.

Club captain Marquinhos has joined the growing list of big-name absentees for Paris Saint-Germain after suffering a thigh issue, the European champions announced on Friday.

The 31-year-old Brazilian defender "will undergo treatment on a left thigh injury over the next few weeks", PSG announced on their website.

The latest injury blow for Luis Enrique's side comes in the wake of injuries to stars Joao Neves and Desire Doue, as well as recent Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele.

PSG did not specify when Marquinhos picked up the injury, with the centre-half playing the full 90 minutes of his side's last outing – a 1-0 defeat at arch-rivals Marseille on Monday in which Marquinhos scored an own goal.

When contacted by AFP, PSG did not immediately respond.

Bradley Barcola was, however, present at Friday's training session ahead of PSG's league meeting with Auxerre this weekend, after having missed the Marseille defeat due to muscle fatigue in his thigh.

PSG then next face Barcelona at home in the Champions League on Wednesday, before travelling to Lille in Ligue 1 action on 5 October.

Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, who is being investigated over an alleged rape, said he has "peace of mind" and expects to be cleared of the accusations.

Last month, French prosecutors called for the 26-year-old Morocco international to face trial over the allegations that he raped a 24-year-old woman that he had met over social media.

"I know that what I am accused of is a lie," Hakimi told journalist Mouloud Achour in an interview for the "Clique" show to be aired on Canal+, a clip of which was broadcast on Wednesday night.

"I know that I have not done anything and that I would never do that," the Madrid-born Hakimi said in Spanish.

"Today, I have peace of mind.... hoping that the truth will soon be revealed."

Hakimi, who helped Morocco to their historic progress to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, was charged in March, 2023 with raping the woman.

Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25, 2023, in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife, from whom he has since divorced, and children were away on holiday.

The woman went to a police station following the encounter alleging rape and was questioned by police.

Although the woman refused to make a formal accusation, prosecutors decided to press charges against the player.

Hakimi insists that he is the victim of an extortion attempt.

On 1 August, the Nanterre prosecutor's office told AFP that they had requested that the investigating judge refer the rape charge to a criminal court.

"Nothing in the case lends in any way to a characterising of extortion," the alleged victim's lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo told AFP on Thursday.

"Mr Hakimi is trying to create a counter-fire that we are used to in cases of sexual violence."

Hakimi has continued to play for PSG and his country since the allegations first surfaced, even winning the Champions League with the Qatari-owned French club in May.

Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi has challenged his side to prove they are "a great team" when they visit Strasbourg on Friday, just days after a long-awaited victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

OM (Olympique de Marseilles) threatened early last season to challenge PSG's dominance of the French top flight before falling away, finishing 19 points adrift of their rivals despite taking second place.

De Zerbi, who will miss the Strasbourg game through suspension after being sent off late on during Monday's 1-0 win, has made no secret of his desire to compete for the title since joining just over a year ago.

A fifth-minute Marquinhos own goal was enough for Marseille to claim their first home league success over PSG since 2011, ending a winless run of 12 meetings.

"The squad is strong, we know that, but Friday will be even more important," De Zerbi said of facing Strasbourg, who are level on points with leaders PSG with four wins from five matches.

"I've already warned the players, they know it. If we beat Paris and don't turn up against Strasbourg, it means we're not a great team."

Marseille are still waiting for their 10th Ligue 1 title and first since 2010.

PSG also took away one of OM's remaining bragging rights in France last season by becoming only the second French club after the southerners to win the Champions League.

"I came to Marseille for the Velodrome and also to beat PSG, the team that embodies power and has been winning for years without the others being able to truly compete," added former Brighton boss De Zerbi.

"And that's something I won't accept."

Marseille have lost all three of their away games so far this season, at Lyon, Rennes and Real Madrid, while Strasbourg have won both their games at the Stade de la Meinau without conceding a goal.

DEMBELE TO PARADE BALLON D'OR

There was still reason for PSG to celebrate on Monday, as forward Ousmane Dembele won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player at a glamorous ceremony in Paris.

The Frenchman will parade his trophy in front of the fans at the Parc des Princes before the Ligue 1 champions' match against Auxerre on Saturday.

But it has not been the smoothest of starts this term for Luis Enrique's men off the pitch, with key players Dembele, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and Joao Neves all sidelined.

Luis Enrique will be desperate to avoid any further injuries ahead of Wednesday's Champions League trip to face Barcelona and Lamine Yamal, the man Dembele edged into second place in the Ballon d'Or voting.

Elsewhere, Monaco, who lead the early table from PSG on goals scored, host struggling newly promoted club Lorient.

Lyon, also level at the top on 12 points, visit Lille who are hoping to bounce back from a 3-0 thumping by local rivals Lens.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Ilan Kebbal

The Algerian has been a stand-out player in recent seasons for Paris FC but could have been forgiven for worrying about his place in the side following promotion and the arrivals of Moses Simon and Willem Geubbels.

Kebbal's only previous season in Ligue 1 was disappointing, with just one goal in 31 appearances for Reims in the 2021/22 campaign.

But he has adjusted to the topflight quickly this term, with three goals and two assists taking him to the top of the goalscoring charts.

Paris FC, playing in Ligue 1 for the first time since 1979, visit Nice on Sunday bidding to bounce back from a 3-2 loss to Strasbourg.

KEY STATS

3 - PSG have lost three of their last nine Ligue 1 games, having tasted defeat only once in their previous 59.

6 - Strasbourg are on a six-match unbeaten run against Marseille, albeit with five draws.

14 - Years since Auxerre last beat PSG.

FIXTURES

FRIDAY

Strasbourg v Marseille

SATURDAY

Lorient v Monaco

Toulouse v Nantes

Paris Saint-Germain v Auxerre

SUNDAY

Nice v Paris FC

Angers v Brest

Metz v Le Havre

Lille v Lyon

Rennes v Lens

The French football league (LFP) handed out a one-match ban to Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi on Wednesday after the Italian's red card against Paris Saint-Germain.

De Zerbi was sent off on the touchline after confronting the referee in injury time in Monday's 1-0 win over their arch rivals at the Velodrome.

The LFP meted out a "one-match ban and a suspended one-match ban from the touchline, the referee's changing room and from all official duties".

De Zerbi will miss his sixth-placed club's next Ligue 1 outing at Strasbourg on Friday.