Can Monaco go with the Flo against PSG?

Monaco's 3-2 victory against Lens last weekend was a mixed bag for USMNT forward, Folarin Balogun. The Monaco striker scored his first goal in Ligue 1 since November, but missed a late penalty which could have cost his team the win, had Takumi Minamino not come up with a winner. Both the spot-kick catastrophe and just five league goals since his $43 million transfer from Arsenal sees Balogun as a talking point in France this week. 

Monaco coach, Adi Hütter, confirmed that Balogun was no longer taking penalties after missing four this season. The contrast with last year when the Brooklyn-born striker scored 21 Ligue 1 goals for Reims is stark, with even Arsenal fans suggesting that the 22-year-old should have stayed at the Emirates rather than move to Monte Carlo. 

Nevertheless, Hütter sees better days to come for Balogun, potentially starting against PSG on Friday. "The way I see it is that he is on form, but playing against Paris Saint-Germain, anything can happen. He could score, he could miss chances, but that’s football," said the Monaco manager.

If you are after omens, then Balogun's previous Ligue 1 goal for Monaco before last weekend was against PSG. Last season, the American scored an injury-time equalizer in the Parc de Princes for Reims. Third time lucky on Friday?

Friday 3PM - Monaco vs. PSG - Live on beIN SPORTS 

How far can the miracle man of Marseille take his team?

Happy spectators in the stands. A team celebrating in the locker room. Nothing being set on fire or thrown at anyone. Sunday's throw-down showdown against Montpellier last Sunday was very unlike ... Marseille. 

After all, this is the club that is now on its fourth coach of the season, with fans having almost literally run the first one out of town. Being run out of town was pretty much what happened to Jean-Louis Gasset as well, when Marseille's latest manager was sacked by Ivory Coast after the AFCON group stages. However, it could be a happy ending for both parties. Ivory Coast went on to win the tournament and Gasset has lead Marseille to back-to-back wins in the Europa League playoffs and Ligue 1, with seven goals scored. Those huge victories were as many as Gennaro Gattuso managed in his last 11 games in charge of the team. 

This mini revival may not be enough to see Marseille make a serious move into the Champions League spots, which are eight points and six places away, but it's certainly an improvement in a Ligue 1 campaign where the French giants have only won eight games from 23. Victory number nine is more than doable against a Clermont Foot side that is bottom of the standings and on a run of just one win in 12.

Saturday 3PM - Clermont Foot vs. Marseille - Live on beIN SPORTS 

Is the Lens coach swapping Ligue 1 for Liverpool?

Although Xabi Alonso looks to be the number one pick to take over from Jurgen Klopp at Anfield next season, a magisterial manager from Ligue 1 is reportedly on the shortlist, and deservedly so. 

Since 2020, Franck Haise has taken Lens out of France's second tier and into actual second with an incredible Champions League qualifying campaign. A taste of what his dynamic, English-style team is capable of was evident in a landmark win over Arsenal in this season's group stage. 

The European campaign and huge losses to the Lens squad over the summer sees Lens as slow starters but they will be looking to get into gear against Lyon on Sunday in a cracker of an encounter. That won't be easy though with Lyon still rocketing up from the bottom of the standings and looking for a fifth Ligue 1 win in a row. 

Lyon vs. Lens in Ligue 1 with Liverpool's bosses watching is set to be an 'L' of a match.

Sunday 2:45PM ET - Lyon vs. Lens - Live on beIN SPORTS