Ligue 1 news

GOAL reviews the key takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, with Pulisic featuring for Milan after recovering from injury.

USMNT star Folarin Balogun experienced a rollercoaster of highs and lows on Saturday against Lens. The AS Monaco striker drew his side level with a 37th-minute penalty, only to be sent off before halftime - a turning point that left Monaco reeling. Lens capitalized, surging to a 3-1 lead by the break before sealing a 4-1 victory.

Former Manchester United stars Angel Gomes and Mason Greenwood were both on the scoresheet to fire Marseille back to the summit of Ligue 1 on Saturday in a 3-0 win over Brest. It was a much-needed victory for Roberto De Zerbi's side after a turbulent few weeks, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also on target for the hosts at the Stade Velodrome.

Kylian Mbappe has hit back at French rapper Orelsan after being mocked in a new track over the Real Madrid star’s ownership of Caen. The French club now sit in the third tier of French football after facing relegation under Mbappe's ownership. The striker issued a fiery reply on social media, accusing the rapper of "begging" for a free stake in the club.

Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi has accepted his "share of responsibility" for his side's poor form following their Champions League exit. However, returning forward Tim Weah has blasted talk of a "total crisis" at the club, pointing out they are still second in Ligue 1 and just two points behind reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.

France national team head coach Didier Deschamps refrained from sparking further controversy while addressing the recent injury suffered by Paris Saint-Germain forward and Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele. Deschamps claimed that he is "especially sad" to see Dembele's fitness struggles drag on, but added that he won't "add fuel to the fire" amid Les Blues' ongoing feud with PSG.

Marseille fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Atalanta in their Champions League clash on Wednesday, a match overshadowed by controversial refereeing decisions late on. Several Marseille players, along with head coach Roberto De Zerbi, were left furious after the referee declined to award a potential penalty just moments before Atalanta netted the decisive goal in the dying minutes.

Paris Saint-Germain are exploring a potential move for Barcelona defender Eric Garcia, with Luis Enrique keen on a reunion with his former Spain international. The 24-year-old centre-back has been a standout performer under Hansi Flick this season, and PSG’s growing injury list has accelerated their search for a versatile defensive addition.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed a double injury setback following their Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich, with Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele both ruled out for several weeks. Hakimi suffered a severe ankle sprain after a reckless challenge, while Dembele sustained a calf issue. Both will be reassessed after the international break, heightening concern ahead of a congested fixture run.

Kylian Mbappe’s legal saga with Paris Saint-Germain is far from over. The Real Madrid forward and his former club have been summoned to the Paris labor court on November 17 over an ongoing dispute regarding unpaid wages and bonuses worth €55 million. Despite dropping a previous harassment complaint, the French superstar continues to fight for what he claims he is owed.

Folarin Balogun scored his first Champions League goal of the season, netting in the first half of Monaco's clash with Bodo/Glimt to put his club up 1-0 at the Aspmyra Stadion. The goal is Balogun's third since scoring for the U.S. men's national team against Ecuador in a 1-1 draw during the October international break.

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany is wary of the challenge posed by Paris Saint-Germain as his side prepare to face the French giants in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Belgian admitted that his team will need to play a "perfect game" in order to beat the defending champions. Meanwhile, PSG boss Luis Enrique is not too worried about Bayern's historic winning streak and remains confident in his team's ability.

Paris Saint-Germain summer signing Lucas Chevalier is aware of the demands and the subsequent criticism at his new club if he fails to meet the expectations. The former Lille goalkeeper, who replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma in a team that lifted the Champions League last season, admitted that any player who underperforms at Paris Saint-Germain gets "put six feet under."

Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi has opened up on why he dropped Mason Greenwood from the starting XI in the recent Ligue 1 win over Auxerre. The former Brighton boss was speaking ahead of the club's Champions League clash against Serie A side Atalanta, set for Wednesday night in France, and explained his reasons for keeping the ex-Manchester United man on the bench.

French football star Paul Pogba's AS Monaco debut has been delayed yet again, with manager Sebastien Pocognoli confirming a 'grade two' ankle sprain. The 32-year-old star midfielder, who has not played in 26 months, suffered the setback in training. The boss revealed the timeline is uncertain, with a new target set for after the international break.

The latest round of action across Europe's 'Big Five' leagues has predictably produced a plethora of talking points, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid all in fine form. The Gunners are six points clear at the top of the Premier League after scoring yet another set-piece goal, and keeping another clean sheet, in their 2-0 victory at Burnley. Meanwhile, both Bayern and Real have five-point leads in Germany and Spain, respectively, after comfortable wins over the weekend.

GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their home comforts in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.