Football

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has vowed to prevent the recurrence of a controversial banner display during their midweek match against Atletico Madrid. The banner, unfurled by the Paris Ultras Collective (CUP), read "Free Palestine" and featured a bloodstained Palestinian flag, a man wearing a keffiyeh, the Al-Aqsa mosque, and a child wrapped in the Lebanese flag.Following a meeting with the French Football Federation and government officials, PSG pledged to "guarantee the absence of political messages" in the stands. A government spokesperson stated that a "frank and constructive dialogue" had identified solutions that PSG would implement at their next home match.PSG had previously denied knowledge of the banner's display, stating that it was not aware of the plan to display such a message. The banner was accompanied by another slogan that read "War on the pitch but peace in the world."The incident has sparked debate about the role of politics in sports. Some argue that sports should be a neutral space, while others believe that athletes and fans have a responsibility to use their platforms to raise awareness of important issues.PSG's decision to ban political messages in the stands has been met with mixed reactions. Some fans support the move, arguing that it will prevent the politicization of the sport. Others criticize the decision, claiming that it stifles freedom of expression.The incident highlights the complex relationship between sports and politics. As sports continue to gain global prominence, athletes and fans are increasingly using their platforms to express their views on social and political issues. It remains to be seen how sports organizations will navigate this evolving landscape in the future.

In a thrilling Champions League encounter at the Parc des Princes, substitute Angel Correa's dramatic 93rd-minute goal secured a crucial 2-1 victory for Atletico Madrid over Paris Saint-Germain. The result reignited Atletico's European hopes while casting a shadow over PSG's aspirations.PSG took an early lead through Warren Zaire-Emery's composed finish in the 14th minute. However, Atletico responded swiftly, with Nahuel Molina equalizing just four minutes later. The hosts dominated possession and created numerous chances, but their profligacy in front of goal proved costly.Atletico, missing several key defenders, defended resolutely, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak making several impressive saves to keep PSG at bay. As the game entered its final stages, it seemed destined for a draw.However, in a moment of brilliance, Correa broke the deadlock. After PSG failed to clear a loose ball, the Argentine forward collected it and fired a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma, sending the Atletico bench into raptures.The victory was a much-needed boost for Atletico, who had lost their previous two matches. It puts them back on track to qualify for the play-off round of the Champions League.For PSG, the defeat was a major setback. Despite being top of Ligue 1, they have struggled in Europe this season, with just four points from four games. Their hopes of reaching the knockout stages are now in jeopardy.

Kylian Mbappe's departure from Paris Saint-Germain has left a significant void in the team's attack, particularly in the Champions League. Despite a strong start to the Ligue 1 season, PSG have struggled in Europe, with just four points from three games.The French giants' struggles were evident in their 1-0 victory over Girona, where they managed 26 attempts but only scored thanks to a late own-goal. A 2-0 defeat at Arsenal followed, exposing PSG's lack of attacking prowess. In their most recent Champions League outing, they drew 1-1 with PSV Eindhoven, again failing to convert their chances despite 26 attempts.PSG's poor finishing has been a recurring issue, dating back to last season's Champions League semi-finals, where they failed to score against Borussia Dortmund despite 45 attempts. This season, they have scored just two goals from 62 attempts in Europe.The absence of a reliable center-forward has been a major factor in PSG's attacking woes. Goncalo Ramos, who was expected to fill the void left by Mbappe, suffered an ankle injury early in the season and is yet to return. Randal Kolo Muani, signed for a hefty 90 million euros, has failed to impress and has been an unused substitute in the last two games.Despite their struggles in the Champions League, PSG remain dominant in Ligue 1, sitting six points clear at the top of the table. However, their European ambitions are in jeopardy, and they face a crucial clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.Atletico, known for their strong defense, will pose a significant challenge for PSG. The French side will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they want to secure a positive result and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) extended their lead atop the French Ligue 1 standings to six points on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lens. The defending champions' triumph was secured by an early goal from Ousmane Dembélé, who has been in impressive form since returning from injury.Dembélé's strike came in the fourth minute when he received a low cross from Bradley Barcola and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Barcola has been PSG's standout attacking player this season, and his assist for Dembélé's goal was a testament to his growing influence in the team.PSG dominated possession throughout the match but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Lens, on the other hand, defended resolutely and had a few opportunities of their own. However, they were unable to find an equalizer, and PSG held on for a narrow victory.The win was particularly important for PSG as it came just days before their crucial Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. Dembélé's return to form is a major boost for coach Luis Enrique, who has been under pressure to improve the team's attacking output.Despite their victory, PSG will be disappointed not to have scored more goals. They had several chances to extend their lead, but they were unable to capitalize on them. Lens, meanwhile, will be encouraged by their performance and will believe they can challenge for a top-half finish this season.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) extended their dominance over arch-rivals Marseille with a resounding 3-0 victory at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday. The triumph propelled PSG to the summit of Ligue 1, three points clear of Monaco, who suffered their first defeat of the season.The highly-anticipated Classique was effectively decided by halftime as PSG raced to a commanding three-goal lead. Marseille's misery was compounded by the dismissal of Amine Harit for a reckless challenge on Marquinhos.PSG's Joao Neves opened the scoring early on, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error by Geronimo Rulli. The match took a decisive turn in the 20th minute when Harit was sent off, leaving Marseille with a numerical disadvantage.Just nine minutes later, Leonardo Balerdi inadvertently doubled PSG's lead with an own goal. Bradley Barcola then put the game beyond doubt with a clinical finish five minutes before the break.Marseille, who had started the season strongly, endured a chastening night as their 12-match winless streak against PSG at home continued. Hundreds of their fans had already departed by halftime, expressing their frustration with the team's lackluster performance."I'm disappointed," said Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi. "We had prepared a match of courage and personality. But up until Harit was sent off, there was neither courage nor personality."Meanwhile, Monaco's title hopes suffered a setback as they fell 2-1 to Nice in the Côte d'Azur derby. Breel Embolo gave Monaco the lead, but Nice rallied with goals from Evann Guessand and Gaetan Laborde. Monaco's defeat, coupled with PSG's victory, leaves them three points behind the league leaders."I'm not happy with the result," said Monaco coach Adi Huetter. "When you lose a derby, everyone is disappointed. But we're guilty because we had the game in our hands. And it came down to two stupid mistakes."In other Ligue 1 action, Lyon drew 2-2 with Auxerre, while Strasbourg climbed to the top half of the table with a 3-1 victory over Nantes. Toulouse also impressed with a 3-0 win at Montpellier.

Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League woes continued on Tuesday as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by PSV Eindhoven at the Parc des Princes. The result leaves the French giants with just four points from their first three matches in the competition, raising concerns about their prospects of progressing to the knockout stages.PSV took a shock lead through Noa Lang's strike just after the half-hour mark, but Achraf Hakimi equalized for PSG early in the second half. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, PSG failed to find a winning goal, with their profligacy in front of goal proving costly once again.Coach Luis Enrique expressed his frustration after the match, admitting that he was "worried" about his team's performance. "We played well throughout and were better than PSV," he said. "But it is difficult to accept the result after a game like that."PSG's frustration was compounded when they were awarded a penalty in injury time only for the decision to be overturned on review. The French giants had 26 attempts on goal to their opponents' eight, but their inability to convert their chances has become a recurring problem in Europe."I think it is obvious that we created a lot more chances than our opponents and we deserved to win the game," Enrique added.After a narrow 1-0 victory against Girona and a 2-0 defeat away to Arsenal in their first two matches in the new-look format of the competition, PSG have a tough task ahead of them. They face Atletico Madrid at home next followed by Bayern Munich away, suggesting things will not get any easier."It is the worst group (fixtures) and we need to be prepared to improve what we can and keep going," Enrique said. "But yes, it is difficult and of course I am worried."PSV, meanwhile, are still winless in the Champions League this season, having previously lost away to Juventus before drawing with Sporting. The Dutch champions showed great resilience against PSG, but their lack of experience at this level was evident at times."The players did a great job tonight and I am really proud of them to be leaving here with a point," said PSV coach Peter Bosz.

Monaco ascended to the summit of the Ligue 1 standings on Saturday, securing a 2-1 triumph over Rennes away from home. This victory propelled them three points ahead of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.Thilo Kehrer and Folarin Balogun found the back of the net for the principality side, propelling them to 19 points. PSG, currently on 16 points with a superior goal difference, will have the opportunity to reclaim the top spot when they face Nice on Sunday."After seven games, we have 19 points. That's the reality and the truth, and we're really happy about that," remarked Monaco coach Adi Huetter.However, he cautioned, "The championship is not a 100-meter sprint, it's a 400-meter race, and we've started very well."Monaco's match in Brittany, played under rainy conditions, was decided early in the first half. Kehrer opened the scoring before Ludovic Blas equalized, and Balogun then netted the winner, all within the first 22 minutes.Monaco youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir, continuing his impressive start to the season, played a pivotal role in both of his side's goals. His corner in the sixth minute found Kehrer's head, who nodded it past the goalkeeper despite a defender's attempt to clear it off the line.Blas restored parity for Rennes five minutes later with a thunderous left-footed strike from over 35 yards that flew past Philipp Koehn.However, Balogun sealed the points for Huetter's side when he chipped the ball over an advancing Steve Mandanda in the 22nd minute after a defense-splitting pass from Ben Seghir.Earlier on Saturday, Lille moved up to fourth place, coming from behind to secure a home victory against lowly Toulouse. Zakaria Aboukhlal gave the 16th-placed side a surprise lead six minutes before halftime, but former Manchester United playmaker Angel Gomes equalized for Lille on 57 minutes. Mitchel Bakker secured the win for Lille in the 72nd minute, rounding off a swift counter-attack.A hat-trick from Zuriko Davitashvili propelled Saint-Etienne out of the relegation zone as they defeated Auxerre 3-1 at home. The Georgian opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a powerful finish after carrying the ball 40 yards into the visitors' penalty area. He added his second on 54 minutes after cutting in from the left flank and firing with his right foot. Theo Bair halved the deficit with 15 minutes remaining, but Davitashvili completed his triple with a dinked finish on 87 minutes.On Sunday, Lyon will host Nantes, while Reims and Lens will also be in action, before PSG travel to ninth-placed Nice.

Manchester City is bracing for its Champions League reunion with Inter Milan in the opening round of an expanded tournament that will be "so tough" for the 2023 winner. Pep Guardiola's side defeated Inter 1-0 in the final two seasons ago, with Rodri's goal securing its first Champions League crown on a memorable night in Istanbul.City defender Manuel Akanji is not a fan of the new format due to the increased burden it will place on players in a grueling season that will conclude with Guardiola's men competing in the Club World Cup in the United States.It will be intriguing to see how Guardiola navigates the pursuit of another European title and a fifth successive Premier League crown amid the financial breaches case that could plunge the club into turmoil.Rodri played his first 45 minutes of the season against Brentford after a hamstring injury suffered in the Euro 2024 final victory against England. With England defenders John Stones and Kyle Walker also making their first starts this term, Guardiola is close to having all his stars available just in time for a hectic period.For more than a decade, Paris Saint-Germain's Qatari owners have spent lavishly to attract big stars, but the Champions League crown remained a distant dream. The superstars have all now left the Parc des Princes, and it might sound paradoxical, but the club may be better equipped in its quest for continental glory.Coach Luis Enrique insisted on molding what he had, and his project makes sense. Enrique asked for the recruitment of less-known but excellent players in every sector to create competition and have second options at every position. This could be even more crucial this season as the Champions League's new format will see more teams playing more games. PSG starts on Wednesday against Spanish side Girona.Borussia Dortmund, finalist last season, has undergone a summer of upheaval on and off the pitch ahead of Wednesday's clash at Club Brugge. Dortmund's unlikely run to last season's final masked a poor domestic season. The result was a summer rebuild, with the club parting ways with Dortmund-born coach Edin Terzic and several regular players.Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and Germany center-back Waldemar Anton joined from Stuttgart, while German internationals Maximilian Beier and Pascal Gross have also signed for the club. The first European test comes at Belgian champions Club Brugge.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) extended their lead atop Ligue 1 to two points with a convincing 3-1 victory over Lille on Sunday. The defending champions faced their toughest test of the season so far but emerged victorious, showcasing their dominance in the French league.PSG took the lead in the first half through a penalty converted by Vitinha. Bradley Barcola doubled their advantage with a well-executed goal, assisted by Marco Asensio. Lille fought back in the second half, with Edon Zhegrova pulling one back to give the home crowd hope. However, Randal Kolo Muani's stoppage-time header sealed the win for PSG.Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappe, PSG have started the season in impressive fashion, winning all three of their matches and scoring 13 goals in the process. Their Spanish coach, Luis Enrique, praised his team's performance, calling it "magnificent."Lille, on the other hand, were left to rue their missed opportunities, particularly a disallowed goal by Tiago Santos due to a marginal offside call. Coach Bruno Genesio acknowledged the high level of competition in the Champions League, where mistakes can prove costly.PSG's victory sets them up for a strong start to their Champions League campaign, which begins in mid-September. They will face Girona, Arsenal, and Manchester City, among others, in the group stage. Lille, meanwhile, will host Real Madrid and Juventus in the coming weeks.Other notable results from Ligue 1's weekend fixtures include Marseille's 3-1 win over Toulouse, Nantes' victory by the same scoreline at Montpellier, and Monaco's 1-1 draw with Lens. Nice claimed their first win of the season with a 4-1 triumph at Angers, while Le Havre and Reims both secured victories in their respective matches.