Evian 0-1 PSG: St Beckham sees rouge as rogue ref goes card crazy

Last night I went to see some ballet. This is not a regular occurrence: I'm not really a ballet kind of guy (is anyone?) but it was the wife's birthday treat so I could hardly send her on her own. And to be honest I was pleasantly surprised - it was graceful, at times moving, and put me in a relaxed mood ahead of the new working week. Alas we got home in time for me to catch the end of Evian vs Paris Saint-Germain, which immediately wound me up as tightly as a coiled spring. I switched it on just in time to see David Beckham get his marching orders for a daft lunge on Youssef Adnane. By this point Marco Verratti had already seen red for mouthing off - I know, I didn't believe it either - and then at the final a mass brawl erupted over nothing in particular. I know it's done thing to condemn...

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Evian vs PSG: Ancelotti plays it cool as PSG seek to quench their title thirst

Despite the best efforts of Paris Saint-Germain's well-oiled PR machine, talk of Carlo Ancelotti's future has still over-shadowed the build-up to today's match at Evian. As we noted on Wednesday, speculation has increased about the Mister's future this week, with reports on Friday suggesting he has informed the club of his intention to leave for Real Madrid in the summer. Ancelotti has denied this, but despite the positive spin being furiously applied on the official website, he still came out of his pre-match press conference sounding decidedly uncommitted. "I love Paris. I love Paris Saint-Germain and the lifestyle here," he said. "The work is going well. The atmosphere is good, but none of that means anything for the future. I have a contract here. No decision will be made before...

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The Rumour Mill: Ancelotti's future unclear as AC Milan and Juventus are warned off PSG stars

Like Clash singer Mick Jones, Carlo Ancelotti appears to be caught in two minds: Should I stay or should I go? Rumours linking the Paris Saint-Germain boss with a switch to Real Madrid have been swirling around for some months, and L’Equipe today says a deal to take the Italian to the Bernabau is “90 per cent done.” You can see why Ancelotti is undecided: On the one hand he could move to a vastly wealthy club, with huge expectations, temperamental superstar players and complex internal politics. On the other he could stay at an, er, vastly wealthy club, with huge expectations, temperamental superstar players and complex internal politics. "We want Carlo to stay, but first of all we have to win the league," said Leonardo of his coach. "That's our absolute priority. After that, it will be...

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PSG 3-0 Nice: Goals, non-goals and a gramatically correct ref

So much interesting stuff happened at the Parc des Princes last night that it's hard to know where to begin. The headline news is that Paris Saint-Germain beat Nice 3-0, meaning a first Ligue 1 title since 1994 is a mere two victories away. Happy days. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was back to his menacing best, and had a foot in all three goals. First he provided the pass to Javier Pastore, who did brilliantly to lob the ball over visiting keeper David Ospina and tee up Jeremy Menez for the opener. Nice held their own until the second half, when Ospina handed the points to PSG with a cock-up of epic proportions. After controlling a back-pass, he dallied and presented the ball to Lavezzi, before fouling the Argentinean as he tried to make amends. Ospina was sent off, and Ibra drilled in the resulting...

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PSG vs Nice: Problems for Puel, Carlo condemns Ibra exit talk

We all have our problems to deal with in life.   I'm currently wrestling with the depressing reality of having turned 30 last week; good bye youth and exuberance, hello baldness and middle-age. Well, hopefully not immediately, especially in the case of the former. According to wikipedia, Nice coach Claude Puel is 51, yet the former Lyon boss still has a fine head of hair so I guess there's hope for me yet. Puel's problems are not age-related, but more in the injury and suspension department. Because a host of Les Aiglons' players will be absent when Nice visit the Parc des Princes tonight to take on Paris Saint-Germain. As well as a trio of suspensions, Puel will have to do without 16-year-old sensation Neal Maupay, who ruptured his cruciate ligaments in a reserve game last week. "We...

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Evian 1-1 PSG (4-1 pens): Double dreams dashed as poor PSG pay the penalty

Apparently while I was on holiday some team called Paris Saint-Germain came through two matches against Barcelona, and were considered by many observers to be unlucky to lose. I can only assume this must have been another PSG, as since I've been back the team has looked a long way short of world-beating form. After squeezing past Troyes on Saturday, they were knocked out of the Coupe de France on penalties last night, going down 4-1 on spot-kicks to Evian after the match had ended 1-1. "You can lose a game but tonight we didn't show any character," RAGED a FURIOUS Carlo Ancelotti afterwards. "We were a bit full of ourselves and misplaced too many passes, lost the ball too easily. Tonight was a disaster and our worst match of the season. "The attitude of the team wasn't right. Some players...

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Holiday time

In an unfortunate piece of timing, I'm off on holiday today. This in itself isn't a bad thing; I'm spending two weeks in Sri Lanka, where it will hopefully be hot, sunny and sans niege. The unfortunate part is that I will be away for both legs of Paris Saint-Germain's hotly anticipated Champions League clash with Barcelona. Been trying to work out the time difference in the hope of sneaking to the bar to catch one or both games, but so far it's giving me a headache. Anyway, here's hoping we don't disgrace ourselves. I'm predicting a narrow PSG win in the first leg, but a comfortable victory for Barca on aggregate. Will be happy to be proved wrong though, here's hoping. ALLEZ PARIS. ...

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