PSG Retakes Ligue 1 Lead after Teenager Nets 1st Goal in Rout at Nice

PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
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PSG Retakes Ligue 1 Lead after Teenager Nets 1st Goal in Rout at Nice

PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
PSG's Pedro Fernandez, center, celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the French League One soccer match between Nice and Paris Saint-Germain in Nice, France, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Dro Fernández scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain as it won at struggling Nice 4-0 and reclaimed top spot in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

The 18-year-old midfielder joined from Barcelona in January and grabbed his side's third goal after being neatly set up by Ousmane Dembélé in the 81st minute.

PSG moved one point above Lens, which crushed Angers 5-1 on Friday.

Defending champion PSG has played one game less and the sides meet on April 11 in Lens in what could be a title decider.

Nice competed evenly until a contentious handball decision gave PSG a penalty late in the first half. Désiré Doué's shot was off target and lightly brushed the arm of Nice midfielder Morgan Sanson, who was turning his back and unsighted.

The referee awarded a penalty following a video review and left back Nuno Mendes scored, The Associated Press reported.

Mendes then set up Doué in the 49th with a cross and, after Nice midfielder Youssouf Ndayishimiye was sent off on the hour, PSG added late goals from Fernández and right back Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Disability awareness Substitute Emersonn scored a late solo goal to give Toulouse a 1-0 home win against Lorient.

The Brazilian forward cut inside the penalty area, beat two defenders and fired in off the underside of the crossbar. The win moved Toulouse up to ninth place.

Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes needed brief treatment in stoppage time after receiving a powerful shot from Arsène Kouassi full in the face. He was able to continue.

Emersonn almost scored a second goal with another solo effort deep into added time.

Players from both sides had pictograms of different disabilities on their jerseys instead of their names as part of a disability awareness campaign aimed at providing better facilities in soccer stadiums for those with disabilities.

The game featured an accessible shuttle service; an audio description service; visual help devices, and spaces specifically designed for sensory and autistic disability. There were also introductory sessions about blind soccer and wheelchair rugby, which both featured at the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024.

Easier with 10 players Auxerre goalkeeper Donovan Léon was sent off after six minutes but it still secured a 3-0 home win over Brest. He was shown a red card for impeding Rémy Labeau-Lascary.

American-born defender Bryan Okoh scored twice with powerful headers and Cameroon forward Danny Namaso added the third midway through the second half with a fine run and shot.

Auxerre remained in 16th place — which is the promotion-relegation playoff with the side finishing third in Ligue 2 — but closed the gap on 15th-placed Nice to five points.



Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
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Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called for composure ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday, urging his players to block out the trauma of past failures.

With the specter of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification campaigns looming over the squad, Gattuso knows his players must overcome the mental weakness that has plagued Italy's World Cup ambitions.

Seeking to avoid a third consecutive qualification failure, the Italians ‌have managed only ‌one victory at a World Cup, a ‌2-1 ⁠group-stage win over ⁠England 12 years ago, since lifting the trophy in 2006 for the fourth time.

"We must be able to make the players feel lighter," Gattuso told reporters at Italy’s Coverciano training base on Monday. "Italy didn’t play in the last two World Cups... but there is no need to suffocate them. These are players who have won the Euros ⁠and played in Champions League finals. They are accustomed ‌to these games."

"There are no excuses; ‌we must only think about Thursday’s game," Gattuso said. "We must have the ‌right mentality and serenity. We respect the opponents... but we must ‌be clear-headed and smell the danger."

Should they get past Northern Ireland they would face a final against Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina on March 31 to qualify for the showpiece tournament in North America.

Gattuso confirmed that Liverpool forward ‌Federico Chiesa had left the camp.

"He had a few physical problems, and we decided it was ⁠useless for him ⁠to stay here," Gattuso said. "When I heard that he had problems and doubts, I had to make a decision. He didn’t feel up for it, so he decided to return home. When one wants to return home, it’s right to let him do it."

Gattuso revealed he personally chose the 23,000-seat Stadio di Bergamo over the San Siro for the clash, admitting he feared the "caustic" atmosphere of a larger stadium if the team struggled early.

"At a 60,000-seat stadium like San Siro, they might start booing after a few wrong passes," Gattuso explained. "I want to create a real cauldron-like atmosphere. Thursday’s game is the only target. All the rest is the past."


Griezmann Given Go-Ahead to Talk with Orlando City

 Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
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Griezmann Given Go-Ahead to Talk with Orlando City

 Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)

France's World Cup-winning striker Antoine Griezmann is to hold talks with Major League Soccer's Orlando City, having been permitted by his present side Atletico Madrid to go to the US during the international break, a source close to the player told AFP.

Should both parties agree a deal, the 35-year-old would move to Orlando this summer after seeing out the present campaign with the La Liga outfit.

Griezmann "has been authorised by his club to travel to Orlando during his days off in order to make progress in the discussions linked to his future," said the source on Monday.

A move to the MLS has been rumoured for years, with the 2018 World Cup winner known to be an admirer of other American sports leagues such as the NBA and NFL.

Atletico had shut the door on their all-time record goalscorer -- he has scored 211 goals over two spells -- moving this season with the MLS transfer window opening on March 26.

Griezmann, who also played in the 2022 World Cup final defeat by Argentina, retired from the French national side in 2024 having made 137 appearances, scoring 44 goals.

Griezmann signed an extension last year to his present contract, taking him up to June 2027, but is no longer an automatic first choice for Atletico.

Despite falling down the pecking order he has scored 13 times this season and can entertain hopes of ending his time with Atletico with one last hurrah.

They play Real Sociedad, the club he began his professional career with, in the final of the Copa del Rey on April 18, just after facing Barcelona in their two-legged Champions League quarter-final.

Griezmann inspired Atletico in his first spell to 2018 Europa League glory, but missed out on the biggest prizes, losing in the 2016 Champions League final and finishing runners-up in the title race in 2018 and 2019.

Orlando are badly in need of a cutting edge up front as in the present MLS campaign they have won just one of their five matches, losing the other four.


Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

Defender William ‌Saliba has been ruled out of France's squad due to injury ahead of this month’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia, with Maxence Lacroix called up to replace him, the country's football federation (FFF) said on Sunday.

Arsenal's Saliba played the full 90 minutes in a ‌2-0 defeat ‌by Manchester City in ‌Sunday's ⁠League Cup final, ⁠before the FFF announced his injury.

"The Arsenal center back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ⁠10 days," it said in ‌a statement.

"National ‌coach Didier Deschamps has decided to replace ‌him with Maxence Lacroix," the ‌FFF added.

The Crystal Palace defender, 25, has earned his first France call-up, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. ‌He has played 43 games in all competitions this season.

Saliba ⁠was ⁠among the expanded 27-man France squad announced by Deschamps on Thursday.

France will face Brazil in Boston on March 26 before taking on Colombia in Washington on March 29.

The 2022 World Cup runners-up are in Group I at this year's tournament with Senegal, Norway and a winner from the inter-confederation playoffs.