Click:

A seemingly routine Monaco win was turned on its head in a dramatic final 10 minutes in which Reims overturned the deficit to run out unlikely 2-1 winners, dealing yet another blow to the Principality side’s dwindling hopes of elite European football.

The game got underway following a five-minute delay, which Reims coach Óscar García revealed post-match was a symbolic gesture in support of the Ukrainian people, and which was instigated by president Jean-Pierre Caillot.

For Philippe Clement, however, it was an unexpected gesture. “Honestly, I was a bit surprised. If you are going to make such a gesture, we should be told in advance. We have a tight preparation for the game, every minute is organised to be ready for the match.” The Belgian coach did, however, agree with the sentiment. “There is no-one in the club who wants the war.”

The unexpected denouement was preceded by a match that largely adhered to pregame expectations, Reims deploying a stout, low-block, whilst the home side dominated possession.

Click Here:

Monaco were denied a perfect start as Gelson Martins, whose movement had already caused problems for the Reims defence, found himself inexplicably unmarked at the back-post. He headed in a sumptuous cross from Sofiane Diop, only for the offside flag to come to the rescue for Reims. Monaco denied by a matter of inches.

Reims withstood the early pressure, and as Monaco relinquished their control of the game, the away side gained in confidence, yielding a flurry of chances on the break. Mitchell Van Bergen should have done better with his chances, the same could be said for Maxime Busi, whose free-header was gratefully gathered by Alexander Nübel.

In committing more to the attacking effort, something resembling an open game of football temporarily broke out. Profiting from the space created between the lines was Wissam Ben Yedder, whose well-struck shot was well-parried by the Reims keeper. The ball then fell to Kevin Volland, whose inability to get a shot away provided a snapshot of a striker low on confidence.

In spite of Monaco’s possessional dominance, the best chance of the match thus far would fall to Fraser Hornby early in the second-half, who, having found himself unpressured on the edge of the box, rifled a powerful shot against the Monaco bar.

Reims were duly punished moments later. Sofiane Diop, who looked the most likely to unlock the tightly-packed Reims defence slipped an incisive ball through to Ligue 1’s top scorer Ben Yedder, the latter finishing in typically clinical fashion to register his 15th of the campaign.

In taking the lead, Philippe Clement’s side had overcome their recent impotence against low-blocking sides, and immediately set about getting another monkey off their back. Monaco are yet to score from a corner this season, but they wouldn’t go any closer without scoring as Ben Yedder almost doubled his account with a volley, which struck the face of the post.

Jean Lucas then had the chance to put the fixture to bed, but an uncomposed, wild finish saw the golden chance go to waste. That miss would prove costly. In search of an all-elusive goal, Volland finally converted -but at the wrong end, the German striker’s header sailed past a helpless Nübel.

Things would only get even worse for Monaco. Frustrations boiled over for Jean Lucas, who received a second yellow for leaving a foot in on his opponent. Then deep into stoppage time, Reims made their numerical advantage count, Nathanaël Mbuku steaming in at the back post to smash past Nübel. Cue jubilant scenes on the Reims bench, in stark contrast to the boos, which rang around the Stade Louis II, as the stands quickly emptied.

The seemingly assured victory, dramatically turned to defeat in a disastrous final 10 minutes, which leaves Monaco’s Champions League hopes in tatters. The Principality side sit eight points off the podium, and have only taken two points from what – on paper – seemed like an easy run of games (Lorient, Bordeaux, Reims).

Post-match, Clement revealed his disappointment at the way that his side finished the match. “We need to be more intelligent and more well-organised in such circumstances. We did lots of good things today and created good opportunities. In the final minutes we made errors, which changed the match.”

Monaco must quickly arrest the slide, with an important match away to Nantes in the Coupe de France on Wednesday – a competition, which perhaps offers them the best chance of European qualification.

Luke Entwistle

In speaking with RMC, via for France midfielder Jérôme Rothen’s radio show, Rothen On Fire, OGC Nice striker Andy Delort (30) explained that he saw significant Ligue 1 interest before he joined Christophe Galtier’s side in the summer. Delort was asked:

Are you confirming that OM were interested in you? “Yes, yes.”

Lyon too?“There was also Lyon, yes. You have the right information… But I’m very happy to have arrived at this club at this time. With the squad we have and the season we’re in, I’m very happy. I feel that the club wants to evolve, to grow. Everything is going well.”

Click Here:

As reported by Foot Mercato, PSG sporting director Leonardo’s position is under serious threat at the club as those watching in Qatar have serious doubts over if the Brazilian should continue in Paris

Frustration has arisen following Leonardo’s inability to, once again, move players out of the club in January while strained relations with coach Mauricio Pochettino have reflected badly on the former AC Milan man with Pochettino frustrated on the club’s inability to secure his main target, Tanguy Ndombele. Leonardo’s dithering over Kylian Mbappé’s future could be the biggest mistake of all after time was wasted in a vague attempt to sell the player while a fee was still possible.

Tottenham’s Fabio Paratici has again been linked as a replacement by the outlet with relations reportedly strained between Paratici and Spurs coach Antonio Conte. Leonardo, meanwhile, could leave Paris in the summer, although nothing is definitive as yet in either case.

Click Here:

Click:全国楼凤论坛

As reported by RMC, Neymar will wear a pair of Batman-inspired boots this weekend in Ligue 1 as the Brazilian forward’s PSG face Saint-Etienne.

The 30-year-old is a big fan of the DC Comics character and attended the premiere of the new Robert Pattinson film The Batman on Monday evening, posing with the Batmobile.

Neymar revealed his black and red custom-made boots by his sponsor Puma via Instagram yesterday. He already sports a Bat-Signal tattoo on his back and even sported a Batman-inspired haircut during the November international break.

This isn’t the first time the forward has worn a pair of custom-themed boots after a pair of Fortnite-inspired boots were seen towards the end of last season.

Click Here:

In speaking to Sud Ouest, Clermont defender Vital N’Simba discussed the incredible story of how he and his family arrived in France when he was a child after fleeing Angola. The N’Simbas were able to stay in France due to his brother’s need for medical care due to a disability caused by contracting meningitis as a baby. The 28-year-old explained:  

“In 1999, my father had problems in Angola. He was part of the presidential guard and he lost a shipment. They thought he was part of a conspiracy, when he had actually been robbed… We had to leave the country in a hurry because he risked being imprisoned, or even killed. We went to Italy for a few days, then we went to my uncle’s house in Toulouse for about ten months. Then we joined a home for asylum seekers in Villenave-d’Ornon for five years… Finally, we were lucky enough to be naturalised and we were able to find a small house in La Bastide, Bordeaux.”

“My little brother was in a special medical centre. Expelling us would have made the situation very complicated for him, he risked dying in Africa because he wouldn’t have been able to receive the appropriate care there. Many people helped us and our case arrived on [Bordeaux major] Alain Juppé’s desk. He decided to take care of us and he did everything to ensure that we received papers and accommodation.”

Click Here:

Click:cnc milling

In speaking with L’Équipe, Marseille man Dimitri Payet talked about being an elder statesman in a young squad and how his controversial move away from West Ham in January 2017 came about.

You often forge a passionate bond with your clubs, especially with West Ham. The fans, and even captain Mark Noble, still don’t understand your departure from the club.“I left West Ham more for family reasons than sporting ones… To be good on the pitch, I have to be happy, and if my family isn’t happy, I can’t be. So I made the choice to go home. It wasn’t on a whim or a backtrack because, since I came back here, I haven’t moved and I don’t intend to. It was a thoughtful decision.”

Your former teammate James Collins said the Dimitri Payet who returned from Euro 2016 wasn’t the same.“It all started there. I’d left Marseille when it wasn’t planned, because the club needed to sell. I’d said that the story wasn’t over. The EUROs in France, and in particular the matches at the Vélodrome, rekindled the flame in me and in my family. This sped up the return process.”

You’ll be 35 in March, are you often reminded of your age in the Marseille dressing room?“Not often, but I feel it, especially during the weeks with three matches when I realise that I no longer have the legs of my twenties. If I want to last, I’ll have to adapt. But the most important thing is desire and I have that. Plus, I’ve always been friends with the younger players… Honestly, the age difference isn’t noticeable, except maybe on days off. Some go to Paris, some to Barcelona, ​​and I go to see my kids matches! (Smiles)”

Click Here:

L’Équipe report today that several Marseille players are considering setting up a meeting with manager Jorge Sampaoli to voice their concerns over the Argentine’s tactical choices.

Questions have been raised regarding the coach’s ever-changing lineups and man-management, as well as the little time afforded to the attacking set-up in training sessions.

Sampaoli has differing relationships with his players, being very close to some and distant to others. In the latter group, Amine Harit has scarcely been used and does not feel part of the project anymore.

Defender Álvaro González had been dropped of late and made his feelings known in the Spanish press. His fellow Spanish-speaking teammates Leonardo Balerdi and Pol Lirola who also harbour doubts on their manager’s choices, while Arkadiusz Milik – who lives in the same building as him – has indirectly expressed his confusion at often starting on the bench.

President Pablo Longoria – who had pushed to sign the Pole last year – has been in a particularly difficult position, having to appease the striker’s entourage while keeping faith in his manager.

Click Here:

Veteran goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has also had trouble understanding his lack of game time, especially given the lack of explanation by Sampaoli. The Marseille legend has a host of allies in the dressing room, who are as bemused as him over the situation, although they appreciate Pau López.

Among the players to side with Sampaoli are Boubacar Kamara – who is set to leave the club – and Dimitri Payet, whose constant presence in the team and public praise from his manager have helped. In general, those with the most game time are unlikely to be part of the dissenting group – the likes of Mattéo Guendouzi, WIlliam Saliba, or Gerson.

Paris Saint-Germain have announced today that Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera has been sidelined as a result of an eye infection.

The former Manchester United man had posted a picture of himself on social media yesterday displaying his swollen eye, prompting speculation as to the nature of the injury.

Meanwhile, his compatriot Sergio Ramos has resumed running exercises as he recovers from a calf injury which has plagued his time at PSG so far.

Achraf Hakimi will also miss this Saturday’s trip to Nice, but will return to training the following day – a boost for Les Parisiens ahead of the midweek second leg against Real Madrid. Layvin Kurzawa will also return to training sessions the same day, while midfielder Leandro Paredes has done so today.

Click Here:

In an interview involving several Rennes players for RMC Sport, midfielder Jonas Martin notably recounted an anecdote regarding forward Martin Terrier’s relationship with social media when both were at Strasbourg.

The latter, who broke through on a season-long loan deal from Lille at the Alsatian club, would sign a deal in January of 2018 to join Lyon at the end of the campaign.

Jonas Martin explains that during that season he had taken Terrier under his wing, and that amid a strong start to the season the latter would look at Twitter reactions. He recounts telling him to be wary of social media, because things could quickly turn sour once he stopped scoring.

Despite Terrier’s reassurances that he wouldn’t care, criticism soon came in after his goalscoring run dried up at the turn of the year. Martin explains that he twice found the forward on the edge of tears after typing his name into the Twitter search bar after games and seeing the barrage of criticism.

“It kills your confidence. Go speak with those who know about football. You don’t know who’s hiding behind social media. There is mean-spiritedness, but you are the most disappointed when you’ve had a bad game. You get home, you’re disgusted, you’re not going to sleep, the week’s going to be long – Martin suffered from that.”

Click Here:

Click:1.5 ATA Hyperbaric Chamber

Having scored a hat-trick to eliminate Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League this evening, Karim Benzema spoke to RMC Sport.

Click Here:

“There were two matches: the first leg, where we weren’t good, and this one. We saw a different Real Madrid, with a high block and a lot of pressure. We pushed. We showed today that we are a big team, even if PSG are too, and that we deserve our place in the quarter finals.”

On PSG and Kylian Mbappé:

“They have world class players. They’re missing success, in the first leg they could have scored more goals. Kylian is disappointed, he wanted to shine. In the first leg he had a great game. In the second, he scored in the first half but after that we managed to silence him well.”