European champion PSG returns to Ligue 1 action
Old rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille come back to Ligue 1 with a sour taste after completing the Champions League phase. Reigning European champion PSG was dull in attack in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle that dropped Luis Enrique’s side out of the top eight and into the playoffs.
For Marseille, the 1993 Champions League winner, Wednesday evening was awful after losing 3-0 at Club Brugge and getting eliminated. The lone bright spot among the French teams came from Monaco after the Principality club secured a playoffs spot by holding Juventus to a goalless draw.
Key matchups: PSG, which took control of Ligue 1 last week, will look to regroup at Strasbourg on Sunday. It’s not an easy task as Strasbourg has been unbeaten since coach Gary O’Neil replaced Liam Rosenior following his fellow Englishman’s departure to Premier League club Chelsea.
Strasbourg, led by striker Joaquin Panichelli — who has has taken Ligue 1 by storm with 11 goals - thrashed Lille last weekend to climb to seventh place. It has lost just twice at home this season. Lens, which slipped to second after losing at Marseille, hosts Le Havre on Friday. That defeat brought an end to Lens’ 10-game winning streak across all competitions.
“Frustration is a feeling we hadn’t experienced for quite some time,” Lens coach Pierre Sage said. “The most important thing is being able to bounce back.” Third-place Marseille, five points behind Lens and seven adrift of PSG, will be eager to put behind its woeful night in Brugge when it travels to Paris FC on Saturday.
Out of action: Marseille recruits Ethan Nwaneri and Quinten Timber had immediate impacts during their debut against Lens. Loan signing Nwaneri scored a superb goal against Lens while Timber, who signed from Feyenoord to June 2030, impressed in midfield in a box-to-box role. Unfortunately for coach Roberto De Zerbi, they are unavailable for the trip to Brugge.
Lens is plagued with injuries and will be missing Jhoanner Chavez, Arthur Masuaku, Samson Baidoo, Regis Gurtner and Jonathan Gradit. PSG will be without star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who limped off with a right ankle injury against Newcastle on Wednesday. The club confirmed Thursday that he has suffered an ankle sprain and is expected to be sidelined for eight to 10 days.
Off the field: US-based Black Knight Football Club group became the sole shareholder of Lorient. The Black Knight consortium fronted by American businessman Bill Foley, which owns the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, acquired a minority ownership interest in Lorient in January 2023 as part of its multi-club ownership strategy. It also owns Premier League club Bournemouth, Moreirense FC in Portugal and Auckland FC in New Zealand. The group is bringing more than $550 million in equity. Lorient is ninth in Ligue 1 after 19 matches and hosts Nantes on Saturday.
