Football

Lille's hopes of climbing into the top three of Ligue 1 were dashed by a dramatic 96th-minute equalizer from Nice, resulting in a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile, Lyon emerged victorious in the historic "Le Derby" against Saint-Etienne, securing a 1-0 triumph.Lille twice took the lead through Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Mitchel Bakker, but Nice responded on both occasions, with Sofiane Diop and Tom Louchet finding the net. The draw leaves Lille in fourth place, while Nice remains in sixth.Lille coach Bruno Genesio expressed disappointment, acknowledging that his team failed to capitalize on their opportunities. "We deserved to win, but when you don't do enough, you can get caught out," he said.In the Lyon-Saint-Etienne derby, Alexandre Lacazette's 29th-minute goal proved decisive. Despite a late scare when a VAR review overturned a potential Lyon goal, Saint-Etienne failed to find an equalizer, extending their winless streak to seven matches.Elsewhere, Reims climbed to seventh with a 3-0 victory over Le Havre, while Montpellier earned a crucial 3-1 home win against Brest. Toulouse moved up to 10th with a 2-0 triumph at Rennes, who are reportedly close to appointing Jorge Sampaoli as their new coach.

Marseille's resurgence under Roberto De Zerbi hit a roadblock on Sunday as they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Strasbourg. Diego Moreira's first-half strike condemned Marseille to their first loss of the season, preventing them from joining Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco at the top of Ligue 1.Despite Marseille's dominance in possession, Strasbourg's resolute defense held firm. Moreira's clinical finish just before the break proved decisive, as Marseille failed to find an equalizer despite several chances.Meanwhile, Lyon snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory at Toulouse thanks to a 95th-minute winner from Malick Fofana. Yann Gboho had given Toulouse an early lead, but Lyon fought back with an own goal from Rasmus Nicolaisen and Fofana's late heroics.Reims continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-1 away win over Angers. Keito Nakamura and Junya Ito gave Reims a commanding lead within the first 25 minutes, and Marshall Munetsi sealed the victory in the second half. Angers remain rooted to the bottom of the table, the only team yet to win a match.Saint-Etienne earned a valuable away point against Nantes, thanks to a second-half brace from Ibrahim Sissoko. Johann Lepenant and Sorba Thomas had given Nantes a 2-0 lead, but Sissoko's goals in the 57th and 67th minutes secured a draw for the promoted side.

Marseille's resilience shone through as they snatched a dramatic 3-2 victory over Lyon in a pulsating 'Olympico' derby on Sunday. Despite being reduced to 10 men early on, Roberto De Zerbi's side rallied to secure a crucial win that propelled them to second place in Ligue 1.The match erupted into chaos from the outset, with Marseille captain Leonardo Balerdi receiving a red card within five minutes for a reckless challenge. Lyon capitalized on their numerical advantage, with former Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car heading them into the lead. However, Marseille refused to be deterred. Pol Lirola equalized in the 69th minute, and Ulisses Garcia gave them the lead with just eight minutes remaining.Lyon appeared to have salvaged a point when Rayan Cherki scored in the third minute of added time. But Marseille had the final say. Jonathan Rowe, who had come on as a substitute, drove forward from the left wing, beat two defenders, and unleashed a thunderous shot that flew past Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri.The victory was a testament to Marseille's character and determination. Despite being a man down, they never gave up and fought back valiantly. De Zerbi praised his team's spirit, saying, "We dedicate this victory to Balerdi. He made a mistake, but we don't abandon him."Meanwhile, Monaco maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Le Havre. Jordan Teze gave Monaco an early lead, but Daler Kuzyaev equalized for Le Havre. Eliesse Ben Seghir and Folarin Balogun scored in quick succession in the second half to secure the win for Monaco.

Barcelona's women's team has reached the pinnacle of European football by claiming their third UEFA Women's Champions League title. The Catalan giants defeated eight-time champions Lyon 2-0 in a thrilling final at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, Spain.The victory marks a historic moment for Barcelona, who had previously lost to Lyon in the 2019 and 2022 finals. This triumph completes a remarkable quadruple for the team, who have also won the Spanish Primera División, Copa de la Reina, and Supercopa de España this season.Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 63rd minute, capitalizing on a clever pass from Mariona Caldentey. Substitute Alexia Putellas sealed the victory in stoppage time with a stunning strike into the top corner.Barcelona's victory is a testament to their dominance in women's football. The team has assembled a squad of world-class players, including Ballon d'Or winners Putellas and Bonmati. Their attacking prowess and defensive solidity have made them a formidable force in Europe.Lyon, who have been the dominant force in women's football for over a decade, were unable to match Barcelona's intensity and quality on the night. The French giants missed the services of star striker Ada Hegerberg, who was left on the bench due to injury.Barcelona's victory is a significant moment for women's football. It shows that the gap between the top teams in Europe is narrowing, and that Barcelona are now the team to beat. The Catalan giants will be looking to continue their dominance in the years to come and establish themselves as the undisputed queens of European football.

Kylian Mbappé's illustrious tenure at Paris Saint-Germain will culminate on Saturday in the French Cup final against Lyon. The match marks the 308th and final appearance for the French superstar, who joined the club in 2017 from Monaco for a staggering €180 million.Mbappé's time in Paris has been a trophy-laden affair, with six Ligue 1 titles and two League Cups to his name. A victory against Lyon would add a fourth French Cup medal to his collection. However, his tenure has been overshadowed by PSG's elusive pursuit of the Champions League trophy.Despite scoring 42 goals in 64 Champions League appearances, Mbappé has yet to lift the coveted trophy. His closest attempt came in 2020 when PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the final. With Real Madrid reportedly his next destination, Mbappé will be eager to add a Champions League title to his resume.Mbappé's legacy in France is secure. As a teenage prodigy, he played a pivotal role in Monaco's Ligue 1 triumph in 2017. He has since become an icon in his home country, following in the footsteps of legendary French players like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, and Thierry Henry.Mbappé's French Cup history has been mixed. He was sent off in the 2019 final and injured in the 2020 final. However, he has also been a key figure in PSG's three Cup victories.Lyon, under the guidance of Pierre Sage, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since languishing at the bottom of the league in December. They have secured European qualification and pose a significant threat to PSG's hopes of a domestic double.The final will be played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, marking the first time the match has been held outside of Paris and its surrounding region. The venue's capacity of 50,000 is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere for Mbappé's farewell performance.

Mama Balde's dramatic stoppage-time header propelled Lyon to a stunning 4-3 comeback victory over Lille in Ligue 1 on Monday, dealing a significant blow to Lille's Champions League aspirations.Lille appeared to be cruising towards victory after taking a 2-0 lead into the break, courtesy of Bafode Diakite's first-half header and Edon Zhegrova's strike. However, Lyon rallied in the second half, with Said Benrahma and Malick Fofana finding the net to level the scores.Diakite restored Lille's advantage with another header, but Alexandre Lacazette's close-range finish once again brought Lyon level. As the match entered injury time, Balde rose highest to meet Clinton Mata's cross and secure a dramatic victory for the visitors.The result leaves Lille in fourth place with two games remaining, two points behind Brest in third and four ahead of Nice in fifth. The top three teams qualify automatically for next season's Champions League, while the fourth-placed team enters the preliminary rounds.Lyon's victory, meanwhile, lifts them to seventh place, which could be enough to secure a spot in the Conference League if Paris Saint-Germain wins the French Cup.The match was a rare Monday kick-off in Ligue 1 due to the anniversary of the Furiani disaster in Corsica, where 18 people died and thousands were injured in 1992.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) are on the cusp of securing their 10th French Ligue 1 title in 12 seasons after crushing Lyon 4-1 on Sunday. The victory, which came on the heels of their 4-1 triumph over Barcelona in the Champions League, extended PSG's unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 to 11 games.The Parisians dominated the first half at the Parc des Princes, scoring all four goals before the break. Nemanja Matic's own goal and Lucas Beraldo's header gave PSG an early 2-0 lead within six minutes. Goncalo Ramos then netted twice, either side of an Ernest Nuamah strike for Lyon, to put the game beyond doubt.Despite resting star forward Kylian Mbappe, PSG cruised to victory, showcasing their depth and dominance in the French league. The result leaves them 11 points clear of second-placed Monaco with just five matches remaining."I'm very happy with the result, with the match, and with the week," said PSG coach Luis Enrique. "After the match in Barcelona, you never know how it's going to be, but I think the team was extremely precise and I am very confident and very happy."Lyon, who have enjoyed a remarkable revival under new coach Pierre Sage, remain in contention for European qualification despite the setback. They are a point away from seventh position, which would secure a Europa Conference League berth.In other Ligue 1 action, Monaco moved into second place with a 2-0 win at Brest. Denis Zakaria and Takumi Minamino scored the goals for the principality side, who are now two points above Brest and three ahead of fourth-placed Lille.Lille bounced back from their Europa Conference League exit to Aston Villa by beating Strasbourg 1-0, with Jonathan David scoring the only goal of the game. The Canadian forward has now scored 17 goals in Ligue 1 this season.Marseille needed a stoppage-time goal from Faris Moumbagna to salvage a 2-2 draw at Toulouse. The result leaves them ninth in the table, with their hopes of European qualification fading.Montpellier won 2-1 at Reims, while Metz moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 victory at Le Havre.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is poised to secure the Ligue 1 title as early as next week, setting the stage for a potential historic treble. After their thrilling comeback victory over Barcelona in the Champions League, PSG now faces a resurgent Lyon on Sunday. A win against Lyon could give PSG the opportunity to clinch the title with four games to spare when they visit Lorient on Wednesday.PSG's triumph against Barcelona has propelled them into the Champions League semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund, as they continue their pursuit of their maiden European crown. Additionally, they will face Lyon in the French Cup final on May 25.Kylian Mbappe, who is set to depart the club at the end of the season, played a pivotal role in the 4-1 second-leg victory over Barcelona, scoring twice. He urged his teammates to remain focused and not get carried away."We have to stay focused and to stay on track towards our goal," Mbappe told PSG TV. "I want to help my team. The truth is, I always want to help the team. We are in a period where every detail counts and it's true that goals help, but not only that. I want to contribute on both sides of the field, to try to help the team as much as possible. To give everything and have no regrets."PSG was on course to win Ligue 1 comfortably last season, but a series of setbacks meant they only secured the title with one match to spare, finishing just one point ahead of Lens. The capital club is determined to avoid such slip-ups this term, but they will face a stern test against Lyon, who have transformed from relegation candidates to European contenders under Pierre Sage.Lyon's 4-3 victory over second-placed Brest last weekend moved them within two points of sixth-placed Lens and the Europa Conference League spot. The race for places in next season's Champions League group stage is also nearing an exciting conclusion, with Brest, Monaco, and Lille, behind leaders PSG, separated by just four points.The top three in the French top flight will go straight into the group stage, with the fourth-placed team heading into the qualifying rounds. Brest host Monaco on Sunday, defending a one-point lead over their third-placed opponents. Lille play Strasbourg earlier that day, with the opportunity to move into third place with a win.