Balogun responds to penalty nightmare with ruthless goal vs. Marseille

It only took one game for the USMNT forward to bounce back from a brutal outing against Nice

After a brutal game that saw him miss not one, but two penalties, Folarin Balogun produced an ideal response.

The Monaco forward bounced back from last week’s nightmare by scoring in the first half against Marseille on Saturday, leveling the score at 2-2 in just the 23rd minute at Stade Louis II.

Maghnes Akliouche received a pass and quickly found Balogun streaking in behind the Marseiile backline. From there, the USMNT forward was ruthlessly efficient, taking just two touches before slamming an overpowering low strike that beat Pau López at his near post.

It was Balogun’s second goal in four Ligue 1 games so far this season.

Akliouche would end up as the difference-maker on the night, scoring Monaco’s other two goals as the principality side won 3-2 to move into first place in Ligue 1, at least before Sunday’s game between high-flyers Brest and Nice.

The goal was a perfect way for Balogun to put the heartbreak of last week’s 1-0 defeat to Nice behind him.

Playing in his first-ever Derby de la Côte d’Azur, the 22-year-old saw penalties on either side of halftime saved by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bułka.

After the game, Monaco manager Adi Hütter backed the summer arrival from Arsenal, saying: “Sometimes this is football in the end. We have to help him and we will.

“In the end, we have good conversations and positive communication. In the future, he will help us a lot.”

It only took a week for Balogun to prove his manager right.

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Nice ‘relieved everything ended well’ after player reportedly threatens suicide

The Ligue 1 club said that the player “had been taken care of”

OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère has said the club is “relieved” after a reported suicide threat from a player ended with him safe.

Multiple reports said that Nice midfielder Alexis Beka Beka sat on the edge of a bridge on Friday morning, with authorities attempting to talk him down for several hours.

Nice cancelled all of its media activities scheduled for Friday ahead of Sunday’s Ligue 1 match against Brest.

In a club statement, Rivère said: “We are above all relieved that everything has turned out well for Alexis today. He has been taken care of.

“We will continue to respect medical confidentiality and we ask everyone to do the same and respect his right to privacy. We are here to help him, as is everyone at the club.”

Beka Beka, 22, joined Nice last summer in a transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow. He made 14 Ligue 1 appearances last season and has yet to appear in a league game this term.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.

Balogun has a day to forget, missing two penalties for Monaco in 1-0 loss vs. Nice

It could have gone worse for Balogun on Friday, but not by much

Folarin Balogun will want to forget his first-ever Derby de la Côte d’Azur.

The U.S. men’s national team striker was denied on two penalty kick attempts, a disappointment compounded as Nice pounced with a stoppage-time winner to claim a 1-0 victory at Stade Louis II.

Balogun got the nod for Monaco, starting for the first time since a €40 million summer move from Arsenal, but had two spot kicks saved by Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bułka. Unfortunately for the USMNT striker, it was truly a day to forget.

Bułka denied Balogun for the first time in the 12th minute. Aleksandr Golovin was clipped after racing in behind the Nice defense, but Balogun couldn’t fool the Polish goalkeeper.

In the second half, the situation was only marginally different. Takumi Minamino won the penalty this time, but once again Balogun shot low and to Bułka’s right. This time Balogun offered more power, but Bułka was still quick enough to get down and block the shot.

Monaco’s suffering was compounded seconds into stoppage time, when Jeremie Boga curled home a stunning winner.

Monaco boss Hütter backs Balogun

On the plus side, Monaco manager Adi Hütter told reporters after the match that he still believes in Balogun.

“He was unlucky today, but we win together and we lose together. We have to help him a lot because he is frustrated too,” Hütter said. “He wanted to score the second penalty, but sometimes this is football in the end. We have to help him and we will.

“In the end, we have good conversations and positive communication. In the future, he will help us a lot. He is a young striker. This evening isn’t one of his best, but as I said, we win together, we lose together.”

Still, Balogun made some unwelcome history, becoming the first player in Ligue 1 to miss multiple penalties in a single game since Toifilou Maoulida did the same for Auxerre in 2007.

In his time in France, Balogun has missed three of his nine penalty attempts, with the other miss also coming against Nice last season while he was on loan with Reims.

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USMNT striker Balogun scores first Monaco goal in Lorient draw

Balo is off the mark in just his second appearance for the principality club

Folarin Balogun is off the mark at Monaco.

The U.S. men’s national team striker came off the bench in the second half against FC Lorient on Sunday and within three minutes, he gave his new team the lead.

Balogun’s goal made it 2-1 in the 69th minute and appeared like it would give the principality side all three points.

But with virtually the last kick of the game, Romain Faivre equalized to earn the home side a 2-2 draw.

Monaco still remained in first place in Ligue 1 with the result, having taken three wins and two draws from its first five league matches.

For Balogun, who arrived last month in a €40 million transfer from Arsenal, it was an encouraging start to life with his new side. The 22-year-old was prolific on loan at Reims last season, and he appears set to continue his goalscoring ways in Ligue 1.

Aleksandr Golovin found the USMNT forward in the box, and Balogun did well to quickly turn away from his man and crack a left-footed shot that beat Yvon Mvogo at his near post.

It was just the second Monaco appearance for Balogun, both of which have come of the bench.

Balogun has now scored in two straight games in all competitions, though, as he found the net with the USMNT in Tuesday’s comprehensive 4-0 win over Oman.

Watch Balogun’s first Monaco goal

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Neymar: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised’ if the Saudi league is better than Ligue 1

“I can assure you the football in Saudi Arabia is the same. The ball is round, we have goalposts… There’s no secret.”

Did Neymar take a step down by moving from Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi Pro League?

The Brazil star doesn’t seem to think so. Speaking at a press conference before a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Neymar — who joined Al Hilal last month in a €90 million deal — said that this summer’s Saudi spending spree may have tipped the scales against Ligue 1.

“For the names that went to Saudi Arabia, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Saudi league is better than [Ligue 1],” said Neymar, though his assertion was possibly deflated by his own chuckling.

“I can assure you the football in Saudi Arabia is the same. The ball is round, we have goalposts… There’s no secret. We have intense practice there, the thirst to win is still big. I want to win trophies with Al Hilal. It doesn’t change much.”

Only the Premier League spent more than the (often government-backed) clubs of the Saudi Pro League, with Transfermarkt reporting that the league’s total transfer spending in the summer window stands at €957 million.

Neymar’s argument doesn’t require much deep thinking. When he trains with Al Hilal, he’s doing so alongside Brazil teammate Malcom, World Cup star Yassine Bounou, Senegal center back Kalidou Koulibaly, Serbia duo Aleksandar Mitrović and Sergej Milinković-Savić, and Portugal defensive midfielder Rúben Neves. These players are all very good at soccer, and could play in any league.

The counter, of course, is that Saudi clubs added 40 players on permanent transfers, spread across 18 teams. A league of that size employs around 500 players, give or take, meaning that the nearly €1 billion in transfer spending only improved about 8% of the player pool. In other words, for every Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo to make the jump, there are dozens of players who represent the average talent level for the Saudi Pro League.

None of that seems to be bothering Neymar much, as the forward compared the talk he’s heard since making the move to what people said when he moved from Barcelona to PSG.

“Everyone said the same when I went to France, and it was the place I was [kicked] the most in my life,” said the 31-year-old. “I am sure that it won’t be easy to win the Saudi championship. Other teams got stronger, have famous players. It will be very interesting and I am sure you will be watching.”

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USMNT star Balogun says Henry influenced his decision to join Monaco

The 22-year-old striker left Arsenal to join the Ligue 1 side in a reported €40 million deal

Folarin Balogun has said France legend Thierry Henry helped convince him to choose Monaco as his new club.

Balogun completed a transfer to the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday, joining in a reported €40 million move from Arsenal.

The U.S. national team striker starred on loan with Reims last season, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 to send his transfer stock soaring.

Speaking at his introductory press conference on Thursday, Balogun said he had been in touch with Henry, who began his professional career with Monaco before eventually becoming a legendary figure at Arsenal.

“When I played against Monaco with Stade de Reims last season, he sent me a message to congratulate me on my goal,” Balogun said of Henry.

“He was just telling me about the the club, the history, he also said the city is very nice. That put the thought in my mind, and over time it became more clear that this is the next step for me and the step I wanted to make.

“Yesterday, after my signature, he congratulated me again, I am very happy to have his encouragement.”

Unlike Henry, Balogun did not get the chance to establish himself as a regular during his time with the Gunners. The 22-year-old played just 10 games with Arsenal, and took in a loan spell at Middlesbrough before his time at Reims.

Balogun said that despite his lack of opportunities with his boyhood club, he left Arsenal without any hard feelings.

“As a young player, I want to play,” he said. “I want to prove what I’m capable of. What’s done is done. You don’t always get the opportunity. Sometimes that opens door to new opportunities. I am happy with the way things turned out. I wish Arsenal all the best for the season. We’re looking to achieve great things at Monaco this season.”

Balogun could make his debut for Monaco on Saturday in a league match against Lens.

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USMNT’s Balogun departs Arsenal, joins Monaco in €40m-plus transfer

It’s good bye Arsenal, bonjour Monaco for Balogun

U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun is heading back to France.

The 22-year-old has sealed a move to Monaco, with the Ligue 1 club confirming a permanent transfer for the (now former) Arsenal forward on Wednesday. Terms were not announced, but reports have valued the deal as somewhere north of €40 million.

A report from Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday said that Arsenal will maintain a sell-on clause for the USMNT man for nearly 20% of a future sale.

“I think it’s a fabulous move for him,” USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s familiar with the French league. He’s already performed at a really high level with a French team and now he’s going to a bigger club in the French league. I think it’s a really strong move.

“We expect him to be able to score goals, continue to score goals, like he’s done. Having met him and spoke to him, he’s a really humble guy who’s focused on the process and and continuing to improve, and he sees this as the next step for him on his way as he climbs the ladder in European soccer.”

Balogun’s return to Ligue 1 looks like very good news for him and the USMNT, and very bad news for teams in France not named AS Monaco, who overcame strong interest from Inter.

Last season, Arsenal sent Balogun out on loan to an unfancied Reims side due to a backlog of strikers in north London. Balogun responded with 22 goals in 39 appearances, including over 46% of the team’s 45 league goals. Balogun finished the season in fifth in the Ligue 1 goalscoring table.

Balogun won’t just walk into the team once he arrives at Stade Louis-II. Manager Adi Hütter has so far played out of a 3-4-2-1 formation this season, and Monaco’s lone striker has been its captain, Wissam Ben Yedder.

The 32-year-old has four goals in three games thus far in Monaco’s 2023-24 campaign, scoring at least once in all three of the club’s Ligue 1 matches. Furthermore, Monaco’s attack is firing on all cylinders at the moment, producing at least three goals in each of those games.

Ben Yedder can play underneath a striker as well. With Switzerland target man Breel Embolo going down with an ACL injury early in the club’s preseason, the big transfer fee is a clear statement that Monaco will be expecting Balogun to deliver the goods.

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Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Saturday’s Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens odds and lines, with Ligue 1 expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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Paris Saint-Germain (0 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses) welcomes Lens (0-1-1) to Parc des Princes Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET. Below, we preview BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Paris Saint-Germain odds, and make our best soccer bets, picks and predictions.

PSG has struggled to start the 2023-24 season. They drew Lorient at home 0-0 Aug. 12 to commence the season and then drew Toulouse on the road 1-1 on Aug. 19. PSG had 8 or more shots than its opponent in both games. F Ousmane Dembélé and F Kylian Mbappe are PSG’s notable attacking players — both came off the bench in its last match.

Lens lost 3-1 to Manchester United in its last preseason tune-up. It opened the Ligue 1 season with a 3-2 road loss to Brest Aug. 13. It was 2-2 until an 82nd-minute red card was awarded to Lens — with Brest scoring on the ensuing penalty kick. As a matter of fact, Brest scored 2 of 3 via penalty kicks. Lens followed by drawing Rennes 1-1 at home Sunday.

Brest (2-0-0) and Rennes (1-1-0) sit among the top three in the league. Lens lost its top forward, Loïs Openda, from last season — he is now with RB Leipzig in Bundesliga. D Deiver Machado has a team-high 2 goals so far this season.

World class soccer coverage all in one place: Get ESPN+

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:33 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline: Paris Saint-Germain -175 (bet $175 to win $100) | Lens +425 (bet $100 to win $425) | Draw +320
  • Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -160 | U: +115)

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Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lens picks and predictions

Prediction

Paris Saint-Germain 2, Lens 0

Moneyline (ML)

BET PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (-175).

While the juice is there and this is just within my personal betting standards (usually would not straight bet anything over -180), it does have good value. PSG has drawn two straight games but has dominated its opponent, ending with 16 shots against Toulouse and 20 against Lorient.

PSG’s opponents have just 2 shots on goal throughout those matches. It has a strong defense and elite attackers, who should start to get more comfortable with the several new faces PSG has.

The loss of Openda to RB Leipzig was huge for Lens, a team that finished second in the league last season. Its offense will take a step back. It has allowed 3 penalty kicks through 2 matches and may struggle with the speed of PSG.

TAK PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (-175).

Over/Under (O/U)

LEAN UNDER 2.5 (+115).

PSG has gone Under this total in its first 2 games, and its defense has looked rock solid throughout. Lens should be able to clean up its backline. It has allowed just 1 non-penalty goal throughout its 2 matches.

Without Openda, Lens’ scoring hasn’t been consistent — no one has stepped up yet. Against one of the best defenses in the league, expect Lens to struggle to find opportunities. Plus, PSG has scored just 1 goal in 2 matches.

TAKE UNDER 2.5 (+115).

Check out Pro Soccer Wire: For the American soccer fan, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s website provides a fresh look at the beautiful game.

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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

Follow @nathanbeighle_ on Twitter. Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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Neymar and Saudi Arabia consummate their inevitable marriage

The relationship had soured between Neymar and PSG, who managed to recoup €90 million for the Brazilian

Maybe it’s easy to say in hindsight but as soon as Saudi Arabia embarked upon its summer spending bonanza, it was always likely Neymar would show up in the Gulf.

It’s no secret that PSG had been open to the prospect of the Brazilian leaving the club for some time and in the state-backed Al Hilal, the Ligue 1 side found the ideal business partner.

On Tuesday, Al Hilal confirmed the signing of Neymar from PSG in a deal worth a reported €90 million.

That’s a far cry from the world-record €222 million PSG paid to land the attacker from Barcelona six years ago, but for an oft-injured 31-year-old, it is still quite the return.

There were likely few, if any, clubs willing to pay nearly that amount, which will come as a huge relief for a club which just watched its own fans literally go to Neymar’s house and tell him to get lost.

It’s hard to say Neymar was a complete bust at PSG. That would be fairly harsh on a player who won seven major trophies, including four Ligue 1 titles, while scoring 118 times in 173 appearances.

But it is that number of 173 that will sting the Brazilian and PSG, a total that represents just over half of the available minutes since his arrival.

Another figure that will be especially painful is zero, as in the number of Champions League crowns PSG has won even after investing in the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

An ill-timed series of injuries for Neymar sidelined him for several years’ worth of key Champions League matches. That, combined with a perceived lack of commitment off the pitch, ultimately soured the relationship between the player and fans.

“It’s always difficult to say goodbye to a player as exceptional as Neymar, one of the best in the world,” said Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman and CEO of PSG in a statement. “I will never forget the day he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain and what he brought to our club and the project over the past six years. We lived great moments and Neymar will always be part of our history. I want to thank Neymar and his family. We wish Neymar the best for the future and his next adventure.”

Al-Khelaïfi would never say so publicly, but he is probably glad to say that Neymar is now part of the club’s history, rather than its present.

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So, is Kylian Mbappe just not going to play soccer this year?

Sounds like Mbappe will be free this weekend

Kylian Mbappé may want to check in with some friends to see if they want to hang out, because it seems like his weekends this August are going to be wide open.

A report from ESPN says that Paris Saint-Germain will leave Mbappé out of Saturday’s Ligue 1 opener against Lorient, the latest development in the bizarre battle of wills between the France star and his current employer.

The path to this point has been strange to say the least, and arguably extends back to last year. In May 2022, Mbappé — seemingly on the brink of a move to Real Madrid — made a U-turn, signing a three-year extension with PSG that among other things enraged La Liga (you know, the home of soccer’s bastion of responsible spending, Barcelona).

PSG’s 2022-23 season, despite ending in a Ligue 1 title, was a mess. Lionel Messi chose the allure of shopping at Publix and playing games in Frisco, Texas over dealing with the reality TV vibe at PSG, and it seems that Mbappé developed an exit plan of his own.

Namely, the 24-year-old reportedly wants to turn back the clock and make that Real Madrid deal happen after all. He informed PSG that he would not exercise the option in his contract that would extend it to the advertised three years. Without his say-so, his deal would end in June 2024, allowing a global star to walk as a free agent.

PSG isn’t having it, and has given Mbappé an ultimatum: sign a new deal that keeps him in Paris for longer, or be sold to another club this summer.

It’s a risky position for the club, especially in a market where the number of potential buyers at the asking price PSG will surely set is vanishingly small. Why acquire Mbappe’s playing rights now at an astronomical cost, when you can wait a year and not enrich one of your big rivals for European glory?

In unsurprising news (at least during this strange summer of transfer news), the only formal offer to emerge is a $1.1 billion one-season loan offer from Saudi side Al Hilal.  It’s as odd as it sounds.

Mbappé apparently has no interest in spending a year in the Saudi Pro League, a position that hasn’t changed even as PSG has applied pressure. The star forward hasn’t played in a preseason game for the club since a July 21 win over Le Havre, was left off the roster for a tour of Japan, and has been “exiled” to train with the many other notable names PSG somehow has on their books but can’t get rid of.

At least they’re having fun, right?

That brings us to the latest chapter, and ESPN is reporting that Mbappé could be left out of all three of PSG’s league matches in August “as punishment” for making a choice that was built into his contract by PSG all of 15 months ago. That report says that at least some club officials are willing to hold firm no matter how long Mbappé refuses to renegotiate his contract.

However, PSG has some tough deadlines looming. While the club may or may not be able to roll through early Ligue 1 games without Mbappé, the reality is that Ligue 1 was decided by a single point last season, and that was with Mbappé and Messi. Wealthier challengers like Marseille, Lille, Monaco, and Lyon had their own stumbles, and any could pose a true threat to PSG given all the drama at the Parc des Princes.

More importantly for PSG, the squad registration deadline for this year’s Champions League is on September 2. Any plan to play hardball like this would require leaving Mbappé off their final list, but it’s beyond belief that a club so desperate to finally succeed in the biggest competition of them all would enter the group stage without its best player.

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