French football club, Ligue 1 mainstay, blood and gold
Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage faces growing scrutiny after a run of poor results, including a 5-0 loss to Brighton, with 17 conceded in seven games. Injuries and exits have complicated his start, and the club must decide soon as crucial fixtures loom.
Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho has turned down a Celtic contract and signed a three-year deal with Bursaspor, who have just earned promotion to Turkey’s second tier. Celtic had hoped to re-sign him after a league-and-cup double, but Iheanacho has moved to the Turkish club amid competition from bigger clubs.
France has appointed Zidane’s backroom staff and unveiled a plan for the national team’s next cycle, with Barthez returning in a national role and Bettoni as assistant. Zidane will lead France starting with a Nations League away to Turkey on Sept. 25.
Paris Saint‑Germain has moved its Ligue 1 opener against Rennes to Roazhon Park after declaring the Parc des Princes pitch unsafe following an extreme heatwave. The club has said it will replace the pitch before its next home game on Sept. 4. PSG has also completed several summer signings while selling high-value players to generate transfer revenue.
The draw for the Champions League group stage has placed 36 clubs into four pots based on UEFA coefficients. Top clubs like Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid and others are in pot one. Aston Villa and Manchester United return to the competition in pot two. Pots three and four include a mix of European contenders and newcomers. The draw introduces a new rule barring teams from hosting the same opponent in three consecutive league phases.
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool are among the English clubs taking part as the league phase draw for the 2026-27 Champions League places teams into eight-match groups. PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid headline pot one, with Celtic aiming to reach the knockout rounds after a 3-0 first leg win in their play-off. The draw is set for Aug. 27, 2026, with fixtures running from September.
The government has announced a regenerative approach to integrate young players into big clubs has paid off as Sesko scores on his first full start of the season in United’s 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League. He says patience paid off and that joining United feels right after a year of adjustment.
Dortmund has won 1-0 away at Stuttgart, extending their 4-0 start to the season. Kovac’s side show defensive resolve and clinical finishing from Beier off the bench, hinting at a potential title push. Bayern remain top contenders with a narrow gap; Dortmund’s improvement signals a possible challenge this season.
Paris Saint-Germain has beaten Marseille 2-1 at the Velodrome after a late goal from Torres, with Marseille’s Weah sent off as the match swung in PSG’s favour. The result tightens the Ligue 1 title race. Monaco, Lyon and Paris FC also win as the season gathers pace.
France has launched its new era under coach Zinedine Zidane with a first training camp at Clairefontaine featuring a 12-player group. Mbappé is absent, while Zidane is joined by Bettoni and Barthez as they prepare for Nations League fixtures against Turkey, Belgium, and Italy.