Lille are the only club to have ended Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance of French football in the past nine seasons, and they are emerging once again as the main challengers to the reigning champions.

The northern side, French champions in 2020/21, strengthened their position with a 2-1 victory away to Rennes on Sunday. Rennes had been unbeaten at home in Ligue 1 this season before Lille’s visit.

A disciplined defence has been central to Lille’s progress. They have conceded only seven goals in 10 league matches, an average of 0.70 per game, while goalkeeper Berke Ozer has kept five clean sheets.

Ozer has also yet to lose a home Ligue 1 match. He has won three and drawn two of his five games at home, conceding only three goals.

The team is being guided by Davide Ancelotti, who at 37 is taking charge in Europe for the first time after a brief spell managing Botafogo. The appointment represents the latest stage of a long apprenticeship alongside his father, Carlo.

At Stade Pierre Mauroy, one of Ligue 1’s most passionate stadiums, Ancelotti has been given a supportive setting in which to develop a sustainable project without significant pressure. His family name and ability to speak several languages have also helped him make an immediate connection with the club.

Ancelotti has encouraged a direct, forward-thinking style. When Lille regain possession, their first instinct is to attack the space behind the opposition defence through quick transitions.

The intensity of their pressing varies, with the defensive line occasionally dropping to restrict the space available to opponents. More important to Ancelotti, however, is his empathetic approach to management. He has said he prefers a human relationship with players to one based solely on professional distance.

One of the latest Lille academy graduates to make an impact is Soriba Diaoune. He opened the scoring against Rennes before setting up Nathan Ngoy to complete the comeback.

Diaoune is right-footed but can deliver penetrating passes and shoot effectively with his left. His movement helps create an extra player in attack, while his positioning and intelligent runs away from the ball make him a versatile wide forward.

The 19-year-old has contributed to four of Lille’s last six goals, scoring three and providing one assist. He was also the only Lille player to emerge with credit from their 4-2 Champions League defeat by Galatasaray.

Diaoune scored twice against the Turkish side, briefly putting Lille 2-1 ahead before the match slipped away. The performance confirmed to those at the club that his breakthrough had arrived.

Ethan Mbappe, Kylian Mbappe’s younger brother, is another of Lille’s emerging prospects as an enthusiastic fan base begins to dream of a significant season.

Veteran Olivier Giroud has become a father figure to the two young players, despite not being a regular starter. His experience adds another dimension to a side that must improve in the Champions League, where they are second from bottom.

In Ligue 1, however, Lille are advancing at pace and doing so with growing confidence.

Lille moved up to second in Ligue 1 after securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Stade Rennais, handing the hosts their first home defeat of the season and ending their five-match unbeaten run.

The visitors took the lead midway through an eventful first half at Roazhon Park, when Soriba Diaounel produced a fine finish after a ricochet following an attempted one-two with Ethan Mbappe.

The ball returned to Diaounel, who curled his first league goal of the season into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Brice Samba. It was the first real moment of quality in a match where both sides had struggled to create a shot on target during the opening 25 minutes.

Rennes responded after the half-hour mark through Boulaye Dia. Aboubakar Nagi showed determination to keep the ball in play after his mishit effort appeared destined to run out for a throw-in, then delivered a dangerous cross.

Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal flicked the ball into the six-yard box, allowing Dia to finish and restore parity. The goal shifted the momentum towards Rennes, who controlled the remainder of the first half but were unable to find a second before the interval.

The pace dropped after the restart as the sides largely cancelled one another out. Samba was called into action soon after half-time, making a sharp reflex save at his near post to divert Calvin Verdonk’s snapshot wide.

Lille regained the lead with just over 20 minutes remaining. Valentin Rongier attempted to dribble out of trouble inside his own penalty area and was punished for losing possession, with Nathan Ngoy powering his finish into the bottom corner.

Rennes committed players forward during the final 10 minutes in search of an equaliser, but Lille held on to claim an important victory in Brittany.

The result extends Lille’s unbeaten Ligue 1 run to five matches, with three wins and two draws. They are now two points behind leaders PSG.

Rennes remain fifth, five points behind Lille, but have now lost four of their past six league matches and could drop further down the table depending on results elsewhere.

Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal of Stade Rennais was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match.

Monaco midfielder Mamadou Coulibaly could be punished after appearing to make a throat-slitting gesture while celebrating his goal against Le Mans in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The 22-year-old put Monaco ahead with his first league goal of the season in the 1-1 draw, before making the controversial gesture during his celebrations.

Coulibaly apologised later and explained at half-time that he had performed it as a tribute to a friend who had asked him to make the gesture.

The incident is similar to one involving his Monaco team-mate Paris Brunner, who was recently suspended for four matches by the French Professional Football League's disciplinary committee. Two of those matches were mandatory.

Monaco manager Filipe Luis previously defended Brunner following that incident, while also underlining the club's commitment to preventing similar episodes.

Coulibaly could now receive a comparable sanction if disciplinary proceedings are opened.

Marseille secured a third successive away win in Ligue 1 for the first time since January 2025 after substitute Keyliane Abdallah’s late strike earned them a 2-1 victory at Lens.

Lens were looking for a response after their 9-1 defeat by Como in the UEFA Champions League, but their afternoon began in similar fashion as they conceded within 90 seconds.

The opener followed a defensive mistake. Jonathan Gradit’s back-pass ran beyond Samson Baidoo, allowing Amine Gouiri to reach the ball and roll it into an unguarded net.

Lens recovered from the setback and Florian Thauvin headed over as the hosts began to threaten. They drew level midway through the first half when Thauvin scored against his former club, heading Florian Sotoca’s cross into the net from close range.

Marseille were second best for much of the opening period, despite going close when Gouiri flicked an effort against the crossbar from about six yards.

Lens also came close to taking the lead before the interval. Jeffrey de Lange made an excellent save to deny Yacine Titraoui after Igor Paixao had played a pass that echoed Gradit’s earlier error, ensuring the teams went into the break level.

Titraoui tested De Lange again shortly after the restart, curling towards the bottom corner from the edge of the area, but the Marseille goalkeeper was equal to it. Paixao then sent a Marseille attempt high over the crossbar.

Chances became increasingly scarce, with neither side able to impose themselves in attack. Marseille had entered the match with the second-highest shot tally in the league before this round of fixtures, but they struggled to create a clear opening until the final 10 minutes.

Abdallah had scored only once this season, on the opening day, but he doubled his tally when he fired home from inside the penalty area via a deflection to put Marseille ahead.

The visitors were unable to produce their best display, but the result extended their run to six wins in their past eight matches in all competitions. It also made it five consecutive victories in the French top flight.

Lens had appeared to be building momentum after winning three of their previous four Ligue 1 games. However, consecutive defeats - including the damaging manner of their loss to Como - have increased the pressure on head coach Yannick Cahuzac.

Marseille goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange was named Flashscore Man of the Match.

AC Milan and Toulouse are expected to end David Odogu’s loan spell by mutual agreement after the defender failed to secure regular first-team football in France.

Sky Sport Deutschland reports that the 20-year-old has not yet made his Ligue 1 debut since joining Toulouse.

Odogu was named as an unused substitute for six of Toulouse’s first 10 league matches this season. He has since been left out of the squad for their past three matchdays, further limiting his opportunities to feature.

The German Under-20 international, who has won seven caps at that level, remains highly regarded by AC Milan despite his lack of playing time.

The Italian club are reportedly planning to bring the loan arrangement to an early close and then find another temporary destination for Odogu, with the aim of giving him more experience and regular first-team football.

A number of unnamed clubs are understood to have shown interest in the centre-back. Odogu could therefore leave Toulouse soon in search of a move that would provide more opportunities to play.

Brest defeated Lyon 2-0 at Stade Francis-Le Ble to record successive Ligue 1 victories for the first time since March and move up to ninth in the table.

Lyon came closest to scoring first in a low-key opening period when Keito Nakamura ran on to a through ball after 17 minutes. The Japan forward moved inside on to his right foot, but his shot struck the crossbar.

Brest responded by taking the lead only five minutes later. Noah Edjouma met the ball first time and guided a precise finish inside the left-hand post.

The result extended a difficult scoring record for Lyon before the interval. They had failed to score in the first half in six of their previous seven away matches and offered little threat before the break.

Jorge Maciel's team controlled possession and recorded twice as many touches in the Brest penalty area, but they were unable to turn that pressure into clear chances. Their lack of sharpness may have reflected the effects of Thursday's UEFA Europa League trip to Real Sociedad.

Lyon's attacking problems continued after half-time, with the visitors failing to trouble Brest's defence. They appeared to have been handed a route back into the game shortly after the hour when Kail Boudache went down following a challenge from Gautier Lloris.

Referee Jeremy Stinat initially awarded a penalty, but after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor he overturned the decision and booked Boudache for simulation.

Brest almost doubled their advantage moments later. Edjouma found space close to goal, but Dominik Greif reacted quickly to push his effort around the left post.

The home side protected their lead through the closing stages before securing victory in the third minute of added time. Bradley Locko was brought down by Zachary Athekame, giving Brest a penalty.

Ludovic Ajorque converted confidently from 12 yards to complete the scoring and end Brest's eight-match wait for a home clean sheet in Ligue 1.

Lyon failed to register a single shot on target in a disappointing second half. The defeat was their third successive Ligue 1 away loss in the same season, a sequence they had not suffered since the 2022/23 campaign.

Interim manager Maciel was unable to prevent another setback for the Gones, while Bradley Locko was named Flashscore's Man of the Match.

Paris Saint-Germain made it 11 consecutive victories in all competitions as Ilya Zabarnyi’s header secured a 1-0 win against Troyes at the Parc des Princes.

The result strengthened PSG’s position at the top of the table and extended their longest winning streak of the Luis Enrique era, although the Ligue 1 leaders were far from their most convincing.

PSG were without several important players, including 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele, Nuno Mendes and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Their lack of fluency was evident during a first half in which Troyes created a number of opportunities.

The hosts began positively, with Hillel Konate deflecting Senny Mayulu’s effort on to the crossbar inside the opening five minutes. Mayulu then sent another attempt into the side netting, but PSG struggled to turn their early pressure into clear chances.

Troyes offered a threat on the break and Renaud Ripart twice went close, first shooting wide before testing Matvey Safonov with a glancing header.

PSG gradually imposed themselves and Konate had to deny Ferran Torres from a tight angle. The home side finally took the lead when Zabarnyi rose to head in.

They could have gone into half-time with a two-goal advantage. Konate again kept out Torres, who then attempted to lift the ball over the goalkeeper but placed his delicate chip just beyond the post.

Troyes started the second half with purpose and missed a clear chance to equalise when Ripart shot wide while one-on-one with Safonov.

PSG remain one of Europe’s most dangerous sides in transition and almost doubled their advantage when Warren Zaire-Emery headed narrowly past the post.

Torres had already been denied three times by Konate in the opening 45 minutes and was given another opportunity midway through the second half. The FIFA World Cup winner was unable to beat the Troyes goalkeeper again, although he will believe he should have done better with the chance.

Troyes appeared to have levelled with just under 10 minutes remaining when Lucas Maronnier converted from close range. However, he was offside when he followed up after Safonov had saved Dermane Karim’s free-kick.

The visitors continued to push but could not find an equaliser. Their lack of goals remains a major problem, with no Ligue 1 side having scored fewer than their seven goals this term.

Zabarnyi was named Flashscore Man of the Match.

Lassine Sinayoko scored against his former club Auxerre to give Paris FC a 1-0 victory and move them level on points with Paris Saint-Germain.

The result ended a run of two successive draws between the sides in Ligue 1, making this the first of their three meetings in the competition not to finish level.

Paris FC had more possession during the opening stages, but the early talking point was a collision between Hamari Traore and Danny Namaso. The match quickly developed into a physical contest, with Rudy Matondo and Sinayoko both returning to Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Three yellow cards were shown within a minute. A dispute between Pierre Lees-Melou and Cameron Archer was followed by Sinaly Diomande catching Sinayoko from behind.

Auxerre created the first opportunity in the 21st minute after winning a free-kick, but Marvin Senaya headed wide. Sinayoko continued to battle with Diomande, while neither side managed to produce a clear attacking threat.

Axel Tuanzebe intervened to divert Otavio’s weak effort behind, before Lees-Melou sent a badly struck volley harmlessly wide.

Auxerre appeared to have taken the lead in the 39th minute when Romain Faivre moved past Otavio and delivered a low cross towards the far post for Archer to convert. However, a VAR review ruled out the goal because Fredrik Oppegard had handled the ball.

Another review followed when Diego Coppola’s header from the resulting free-kick was blocked, but no handball was awarded on that occasion.

The game became more open after half-time. Pablo Pagis and Pierre Ekwah both tested Kevin Trapp from distance within the first five minutes of the restart, although the Paris FC goalkeeper saved both attempts.

Pagis, who had earned a call-up to Zinedine Zidane’s France squad, then produced a dangerous free-kick. Tuanzebe touched the delivery onto his own post and behind.

Paris FC finally broke the deadlock through an unlikely sequence. Pagis sent a shot wide, but Sinayoko instinctively redirected the ball into the bottom corner, silencing the home supporters and extending his lead as Ligue 1’s top scorer.

Auxerre responded positively and created a chance to equalise after a well-worked move released Archer inside the penalty area. Trapp denied the striker, however, preserving Paris FC’s second consecutive victory.

It is the second time this season Paris FC have won successive matches. They now sit level on points with Paris Saint-Germain, at least until PSG’s later fixture against Troyes.

Troyes occupy the relegation play-off place and are only two points behind Auxerre, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Pierre Lees-Melou (Paris FC)

Ghana forward Ernest Nuamah is facing a fitness race after suffering a muscle strain, with his availability for Lyon’s Ligue 1 match against Brest on Sunday uncertain.

The injury has also raised doubts over whether the 23-year-old will be available for Ghana’s two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers against Somalia in November.

Nuamah was absent as Lyon faced Real Sociedad in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. Lyon interim manager Jorge Maciel confirmed that the winger and defender Moussa Niakhate both missed the game because of muscle problems, although he remains hopeful they could return for the club’s trip to Brest.

“They’ve suffered muscle strains,” Maciel said.

“We hope to have them back for Sunday’s match in Brest. We’re waiting for an update; we don’t yet know if they’ll be fit or not. We’ll see how things are progressing when we return to Lyon,” he added.

No recovery timetable has been given for Nuamah, meaning his prospects will depend on how he responds over the coming days and whether he can resume training.

His condition will be monitored closely by Ghana interim coach Kim Lars Bjokergren before the Black Stars’ November fixtures. Ghana are due to play Somalia twice as they try to revive a qualifying campaign that has begun with two defeats.

The Black Stars lost their opening Group C matches against Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The meetings with Somalia therefore offer Ghana an important chance to put their campaign back on course.

Nuamah’s absence would be a blow to both Lyon and Ghana, particularly after the winger’s return from a serious knee injury and his positive start to the 2026/27 season.

He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2025 and was sidelined for several months. Nuamah eventually returned to competitive football in May 2026.

Since then, he has become an important attacking option for Lyon, with his pace, direct running and goalscoring ability adding to the team’s threat. He has made 13 appearances for club and country across all competitions this season, scoring six goals and supplying one assist.

Lyon will hope he recovers in time to remain part of their plans as they seek to maintain their momentum. Ghana, meanwhile, will be eager to have the forward available for the crucial double-header against Somalia.

His involvement in those matches remains uncertain until further assessment is completed by Lyon.

Liam Rosenior has rejected the perception that his brief spell in charge of Chelsea made him a figure of ridicule, insisting: “I'm not a joke.”

Rosenior, 42, was appointed as Chelsea’s successor to Enzo Maresca following Maresca’s implosion and subsequent departure on New Year’s Day. The former Brighton and Hull player had earned a strong reputation during his time at Strasbourg and was highly regarded by the BlueCo ownership.

However, after an encouraging beginning at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior was dismissed only 107 days after taking the job.

He is now attempting to revive his managerial career at Paris FC, who sit fourth in Ligue 1. The club have won five, drawn two and lost two of their nine games under Rosenior.

In an interview with French magazine So Foot, Rosenior discussed the way he believes he was viewed by Chelsea supporters and the wider media.

“The moment that worried me most was actually at the start, when we went through that five-game winning streak,” he said.

“Any club would have been happy with such a run, but not Chelsea. You get good results and you're in the spotlight. Then, there was a kind of snowball effect in the media.

“They made fun of those instructions I gave Garnacho on a scrap of paper when we were down to 10 men against PSG. The clothes I wore became a joke, the way I spoke too. I'm not a joke.”

Rosenior’s time at Chelsea ended in disappointment, but he said he does not regret accepting what he described as the biggest challenge of his career.

“It was the best experience of my life, and the hardest too. It was fantastic, even though it only lasted four months. I don't want to go into details now; I'll talk about it one day, when the time is right,” he added.

The 42-year-old also questioned whether the reaction to his personality and appearance was connected to football, arguing that managers in England are expected to fit a particular image.

“But in a country where tolerance is an important value, what happened there has nothing to do with football. In England, there's this preconceived notion of what a Premier League coach should be, how he should behave.

“You have to conform to that standard. People who know me know that I'm someone who tries to be sincere and authentic.”

The French Professional Football League (LFP) has opened the tender for Ligue 1’s domestic audiovisual rights from 2027 to 2032, setting a December 3rd deadline for bids as it seeks to end a prolonged period of uncertainty over television income.

The process follows years of difficult rights negotiations, which have placed pressure on club revenues and produced deals below the league’s expectations.

For the first time, the LFP is offering all nine matches from each Ligue 1 round in a single package, using legislation that allows the competition’s rights to be marketed as one lot.

Potential partners can bid for the complete broadcast package or seek exclusive distribution rights for Ligue 1+, the channel owned by the league.

Ligue 1+ was launched in 2025 after the end of the league’s agreement with DAZN. It is showing every Ligue 1 match this season, after beIN Sports had previously retained the rights to one game per round.

“If we decided to test the market, it’s because we believe the environment is more favourable than in 2023,” LFP president Vincent Labrune told reporters.

“We will try to find the best combination of value, exposure and accessibility for our product. We’re approaching the process with relative serenity.”

The tender had originally been scheduled for the 2029-2034 cycle, but the LFP moved it forward after discussions with possible bidders.

“We realised that the interest was mainly in 2027-2032,” LFP media chief executive Olivier Bramly told Reuters.

“The platforms told us that this was the right time to do it for 2027-2032.”

Companies submitting offers must provide three elements: a financial proposal, a qualitative proposal and a financial guarantee mechanism.

The financial bid must exceed a confidential reserve price for the tender to succeed. The financial and qualitative aspects of each offer will then be considered together.

“The reserve price needs to be significantly above Ligue 1+’s projected trajectory. It’s ambitious, but not unrealistic,” Bramly said, adding that the figure was still being finalised.

“We have this comfort and this luxury because we have Ligue 1+, there’s no emergency.”

If no suitable offer is accepted, the LFP said it would continue expanding its own platform.

The league has held talks with about 10 potential partners and is especially targeting streaming companies. Bramly said digital platforms were showing strong interest in acquiring Ligue 1 rights.

Recent agreements have highlighted the increased appetite among streaming services for live sport. Disney+ has bought Spanish league rights in France, while Netflix has secured rights to the 2030 World Cup in Spain and Andorra.

“American platforms are reaching a bit more maturity in their thinking about sports content than they were two or three years ago, and that’s why we see the timing of this call for bids as much better,” Labrune said.

Bramly described the result of the tender as “very important for French football”. The outcome is due to be announced on December 4th.

Carlos Vicens has become the leading candidate to take over from Paulo Fonseca at Lyon, with the Portuguese manager reportedly nearing a return to Sporting CP.

Negotiations involving Lyon, Fonseca and Sporting are at an advanced stage, according to L’Equipe. Lyon are expected to receive approximately €5 million in compensation for Fonseca, while his departure would also remove his substantial salary from the club’s wage bill.

Fonseca is reported to have told Lyon’s players on Monday that he was preparing to leave. He had appeared emotional during Sunday’s victory over Angers, further fuelling speculation about his future.

Lyon have examined a number of possible replacements. Former Juventus manager Thiago Motta has been considered, as has Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage, although a return for Sage has been ruled out.

Vicens, who previously worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, has been in discussions with Lyon about the vacant position.

The Spaniard has been without a club since leaving Braga in October. Any appointment is unlikely to be made before the international break.

Former Chelsea and Newcastle United striker Demba Ba has stepped down as sporting director of Le Havre after only four months in the role.

The former Senegal international joined the Ligue 1 club in June after a successful spell with Ligue 2 side Dunkerque. However, according to L’Equipe, Ba has decided to leave as the Normandy club faces increasing instability.

His departure comes shortly after Le Havre dismissed manager Didier Digard. Digard was sacked following a 5-1 defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at the weekend.

That result left Le Havre at the bottom of Ligue 1, with just two points from their opening nine matches.

Club president Jean-Michel Roussier also resigned in protest at Digard’s dismissal, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the club’s leadership.

Le Havre’s owners, Blue Crow, must now rebuild the club’s management structure while attempting to revive a season that has started badly.

The latest Team of the Weekend recognises the outstanding individual performances from the past three days across Europe's biggest leagues, with PSG's Achraf Hakimi and Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen among the leading figures.

The selection is based on an internal player ratings system using key performance metrics and advanced statistics.

Verbruggen takes his place in goal after producing a series of important saves in Brighton's historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Hakimi leads the defence following a superb display for PSG against Le Havre, while Ismael Baouf and Jan Paul van Hecke are also included after scoring important goals for Cambuur and Tottenham respectively.

Lamine Yamal continued his excellent form with two goals and an assist in Barcelona's 6-1 win over Getafe. Sondre Orjasaeter provided five assists for Twente, Yannick Carrasco scored a hat-trick for Al Shabab, and Gessime Yassine of Strasbourg and Genoa's Junior Messias also impressed in midfield.

Up front, Wout Weghorst scored four times in Twente's 9-0 victory against Excelsior. Lassine Sinayoko was decisive once again for Paris FC, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Monaco.

Bart Verbruggen - Brighton, 9.0

Brighton's unbeaten start to the season continued with a first-ever victory at Etihad Stadium, and Verbruggen was central to the result.

The Dutch goalkeeper made seven saves to keep Manchester City's attack scoreless, preventing a total of 1.07 expected goals. He also showed his quality with the ball, completing 15 long passes - the highest total in the match.

Brighton are third in the table, five points behind the leaders, and have recorded six clean sheets in their nine games. That is more than any other side and underlines the defensive strength of Fabian Hurzeler's team.

Achraf Hakimi - PSG, 10

Hakimi produced a perfect 10-rated performance as PSG won 5-1 at Le Havre.

The Moroccan right-back scored the first hat-trick of his career and also supplied two assists. One of his goals came from a free-kick, while his six shots reflected the attacking freedom he enjoyed throughout the match.

PSG returned to the top of the table with a ninth consecutive victory in all competitions. The win also made Luis Enrique the most successful manager in the club's history, with 127 victories.

Wout Weghorst - Twente, 10

Weghorst delivered a standout performance in the Eredivisie as Twente overwhelmed Excelsior 9-0.

Following Nesto Groen's early dismissal for the hosts, the 34-year-old striker scored a first-half hat-trick, including a fine touch and finish to complete it. He added a fourth goal from the penalty spot after the interval.

The result moved Weghorst joint-top of the Eredivisie scoring charts, with eight goals in 11 matches. He also completed 90% of his passes in the final third and created another big chance for a team-mate.

Marseille continued their resurgence with a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 victory, beating Toulouse 2-0 at the Stade Velodrome to climb to sixth in the table.

The result also extended Marseille’s unbeaten run against Toulouse to 25 matches, equalling the club record for the longest sequence against a single opponent.

Only league leaders and defending champions PSG had entered the fixture on a longer winning run than Bruno Genesio’s side, who immediately showed the confidence brought by their recent form.

Marseille took the lead inside two minutes after winning possession in midfield. Amine Gouiri and Amine Harit combined, with Harit striking first time from 25 yards and finding the bottom corner with an early outside-of-the-boot finish.

Toulouse had been unbeaten in their previous five matches and responded positively. Jacen Russell-Rowe tested Jeffrey de Lange with a curling effort, before the Marseille goalkeeper produced an excellent save to keep out Thomas Jorgensen’s close-range attempt.

The hosts doubled their advantage after 25 minutes when they capitalised on another defensive mistake. Igor Paixao headed Rasmus Nicolaisen’s poor clearance into the path of Gouiri, who turned and drove a clinical finish into the far corner.

Marseille almost added a third moments later. Himad Abdelli, in good form, found himself with only Guillaume Restes to beat but inexplicably chipped his effort over the crossbar.

Russell-Rowe remained Toulouse’s main threat before the interval and went close twice. CJ Egan-Riley cleared his attempted dink, while De Lange reacted sharply to save the Canadian’s instinctive effort.

The duel between Russell-Rowe and De Lange continued soon after the restart. Within three minutes of the second half beginning, the Marseille goalkeeper again prevailed, saving Russell-Rowe’s volley from eight yards.

The match remained open, with chances at both ends. Casper Tengstedt fired over from inside the six-yard box, while Jorgensen volleyed directly at De Lange. At the other end, Paixao went close when his header struck the base of the post.

Toulouse thought they had reduced the deficit with just over 20 minutes remaining when Tengstedt tapped in, but a VAR review found the Denmark international offside after Santiago Hidalgo headed the ball back across goal. Hidalgo was then caught offside himself as Toulouse continued to press without reward.

Marseille now turn their attention to Europe, travelling to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League. They are seeking their first points of the competition this term.

The defeat leaves Toulouse in a congested bottom half of the table, two points above the relegation play-off place.

Jeffrey de Lange was named Flashscore Man of the Match.

Paulo Fonseca is reportedly poised to leave Lyon and become Sporting’s new manager following the sacking of Rui Borges.

Borges, 45, was dismissed on Sunday (November 1), two days after Sporting’s 2-0 league victory over Casa Pia. The result left the Lisbon club third in the table.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Fonseca, 53, will replace Borges at Sporting. The appointment would bring an end to his time at French club Lyon, which he joined in January 25.

Fonseca appeared to be emotional after Lyon’s 2-0 Ligue 1 win against Angers, prompting further questions about his future.

Speaking to Ligue 1+ after the match, Fonseca said: “Tomorrow I will be here, with the team. For now, there is nothing.

“Leaving? It’s a possibility. I really like this group; I think they are wonderful. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the difficulties we are facing.

“What this team has achieved so far is incredible. No one could have imagined that, with all these difficulties, the injuries and the departures, we would be where we are.

“It’s not an easy time, but we are here doing the work. We are a family.

“That’s why we are getting these results. People need to understand that things are not easy for everyone at the club.”

Fonseca also praised Lyon president and sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean for their work, while calling for greater understanding of the club’s situation.

“I think the president and Matthieu Louis-Jean, the sporting director, have done a great job, but there also needs to be some understanding, because this is not an easy time,” he said.

Asked whether he could turn down the opportunity to return to his “beloved Sporting”, Fonseca replied: “At the moment, anything is possible.”

He said he valued his current working environment at Lyon but could not confirm whether he would remain with the club in the near future.

“I don’t know. I really like being here - the club and the staff. It’s difficult to find people like the ones we have at the moment. I don’t know if I will be here in the coming days. Leaving during the winter break? Tomorrow I will be here with the team.”

If confirmed, the move would see Fonseca leave Lyon to take over at Sporting after the club decided to part company with Borges.

Paulo Fonseca says “anything is possible” regarding a return to Sporting CP, but insists he will be with Lyon’s players on Monday after their 2-0 Ligue 1 victory over Angers.

The Portuguese manager is Sporting CP’s leading candidate to replace Rui Borges, according to reports by Flashscore three days ago. Fonseca became emotional at the Groupama Stadium after Corentin Tolisso scored Lyon’s second goal on Sunday, prompting speculation that the match could be his last home game in charge.

Asked about his immediate plans by Ligue 1+, Fonseca said: “Tomorrow I will be here, with the team. For now, there is nothing.”

Explaining his reaction to Tolisso’s goal, he added: “It was an emotional moment when Coco scored the second goal. He came over to celebrate with me. We’ll see” whether the celebration was intended as a message for him to remain at Lyon.

Fonseca admitted that leaving the club was possible, while stressing his strong connection with the squad.

“I really like this group; I think they are wonderful,” he said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the difficulties we are facing.

“What this team has achieved so far is incredible. No one could have imagined that, with all these difficulties, the injuries and the departures, we would be where we are. It’s not an easy time, but we are here doing the work. We are a family.

“That’s why we are getting these results. People need to understand that things are not easy for everyone at the club.”

He also praised Lyon president and Matthieu Louis-Jean, the club’s sporting director, for their work.

“I think the president and Matthieu Louis-Jean, the sporting director, have done a great job, but there also needs to be some understanding, because this is not an easy time,” Fonseca said.

When asked whether he could reject the opportunity to return to his “beloved club”, Sporting CP, he replied: “At the moment, anything is possible.”

Fonseca was then asked whether he would remain at Lyon until the end of the season.

“I don’t know. I really like being here - the club and the staff. It’s difficult to find people like the ones we have at the moment. I don’t know if I will be here in the coming days,” he said.

Asked specifically about leaving during the winter break, Fonseca repeated: “Tomorrow I will be here with the team.”

Tolisso said before his manager that he had no further information about the reports linking Fonseca with Sporting CP.

“I see what is being said in the press; I don’t know any more than you do. The coach hasn’t told us anything,” he said.

“Personally, I want to tell him to stay. We still have great things to achieve. Since he arrived, he has done an extraordinary job. I want to continue working with him. It’s a chance for OL to have a coach like him. He was very emotional.

“I had told myself that if I scored, I would go over to him to celebrate because you never know what tomorrow holds.”

Paris FC moved up to fourth in Ligue 1 after Lassine Sinayoko scored twice in a 3-1 victory over AS Monaco, extending their run to three consecutive head-to-head wins.

Rosenior’s side controlled a dominant first half and secured a third victory in their past five league matches. The result also allowed Paris FC to leapfrog Monaco, who are now without a win in four Ligue 1 games.

Both teams had struggled for consistency in recent weeks, but victory offered a chance to regain ground in a closely contested title race.

Paris FC made the stronger start and went close in the 13th minute. Pierre Lees-Melou’s long-range effort struck the right post before Ilan Kebbal sent the rebound over the crossbar despite being unmarked inside the area.

The hosts continued to put Monaco under pressure, with Moses Simon proving a constant threat on the left. His shot was deflected over the bar before he again created an opening by dribbling through the visitors’ defence. Simon’s cutback found Sinayoko in the box, but Monaco goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky reacted quickly to keep out the attempt.

Paris FC eventually made their pressure count in the 38th minute. After winning possession inside the Monaco penalty area, Maxime Lopez found Sinayoko, who turned and placed his finish into the bottom-left corner.

Monaco were second best for most of the opening period but nearly equalised before the interval when Aleksandr Golovin’s effort went narrowly wide.

Instead, Paris FC doubled their advantage moments later. Sinayoko raced on to a ball played over the top and finished beyond Hradecky to complete his brace and give the hosts a two-goal lead at half-time.

Filipe Luis responded by making two substitutions before the restart, including the unexpected withdrawal of top scorer Paris Brunner for Folarin Balogun. The changes did little to alter the pattern of the game, however, as Paris FC remained in control.

Lees-Melou tested Hradecky from distance early in the second half, but the Monaco goalkeeper got down well to make the save.

The visitors were handed a route back into the match with 25 minutes remaining. Balogun justified his introduction by bundling the ball over the line after meeting Vanderson’s delivery into the area.

Paris FC restored their two-goal advantage 10 minutes later. Sinayoko held off the Monaco defence with impressive skill inside the box before setting up Pablo Pagis, who swept the ball home for his second goal of the campaign.

The defeat leaves Monaco having lost momentum after beginning the season with a six-match unbeaten run and now facing a growing gap in the title race.

Flashscore named Sinayoko the Man of the Match.

Lyon climbed to third in Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory over Angers at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, extending the visitors’ winless run to four matches.

The hosts appeared to have been awarded an early penalty when Zachary Athekane went down under a challenge from Jordan Lefort inside the area. However, referee Marc Bollengier reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor and overturned his original decision.

Lyon controlled the opening stages and created two further opportunities before the half-hour mark. Ernest Nuamah was denied by Anthony Lopes, while Julien Duranville’s attempt went wide of the side netting.

Angers had struggled to impose themselves but came close to taking the lead 10 minutes before the interval. Prosper Peter found space for a close-range effort, but his shot struck the left post.

That miss proved expensive three minutes later when Lyon broke the deadlock. Angers failed to clear a cross into the penalty area and Nuamah reacted quickest to the loose ball. After taking a touch, he guided his finish into the bottom-left corner to give Lyon a deserved advantage.

The goal strengthened Lyon’s position, with the home side having won their previous six Ligue 1 matches in which they scored first. They almost doubled their lead shortly after the hour mark, but Duranville’s first-time effort from just inside the area curled narrowly past the left post.

Angers had produced either a clean sheet or conceded five goals in their recent matches. A second heavy defeat never appeared likely, given their determined defensive performance, but they offered too little going forward to seriously threaten a comeback.

Lyon finally secured the points five minutes from full-time. Corentin Tolisso met a corner with a glancing header and sent the ball into the net, allowing the home side to play out the closing stages with a two-goal cushion.

The victory was Lyon’s eighth consecutive home win against Angers in all competitions. It moved them two places higher in the Ligue 1 table and left them three points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Corentin Tolisso was named Flashscore’s Man of the Match.

Everton are not expected to renew their interest in Folarin Balogun during the January transfer window, despite AS Monaco indicating the striker could be available.

A proposed £40M move from AS Monaco to Merseyside collapsed at the last minute after Balogun withdrew from negotiations. Sources close to the USMNT international said he had concerns about the way Everton handled his medical and the wider contract discussions.

The former Arsenal attacker reportedly did not feel comfortable continuing with the transfer, bringing an abrupt end to the deal.

AS Monaco have since suggested they would be willing to sell Balogun in January, while the player is understood to be open to leaving France. However, he is not expected to join David Moyes' Everton side.

According to the latest information from Football Insider, Everton have ruled out making a renewed offer for the striker. The club's budget cuts could leave Moyes having to consider a loan signing instead.

That would be a less expensive solution as Everton continue to rely heavily on Thierno Barry in attack.

Dion Beljo has been identified as a potential alternative. The Dinamo Zagreb forward scored 38 goals in his first season at the club in 2025/26, but a permanent deal could cost more than £35M.