Monaco will aim to strengthen their position in the upper half of the table when they visit Le Mans at Stade Marie-Marvin on Sunday, 8 November 2026.

Le Mans have collected seven points from their opening nine matches and sit 17th in the standings. Their record consists of one win, four draws and four defeats, with 11 goals scored and 18 conceded.

That gives the hosts a goal difference of -7 and highlights problems at both ends of the pitch. Le Mans are in the lower part of the table and have struggled to produce enough in attack while also allowing opponents to score regularly.

Monaco begin the match in seventh place on 15 points. The visitors have won four of their nine games, drawn three and lost two, scoring 12 goals and conceding 10 for a goal difference of +2.

The figures point to a more consistent campaign for Monaco. They have also shown greater attacking potential than their opponents, while their stronger league position gives them an advantage before the game.

The head-to-head record further favours the visitors. The teams have met nine times, with Monaco winning five of those matches. Le Mans have recorded one victory, while the remaining three fixtures ended level.

Monaco’s five wins represent 55.6% of the meetings, compared with 11.1% for Le Mans. Draws account for 33.3% of the clubs’ previous encounters.

The scoring figures from the current campaign are relatively close, with Le Mans averaging 1.22 goals per match after scoring 11 in nine games. Monaco have scored 12, an average of 1.33 per match.

The defensive comparison is more marked. Le Mans have conceded 18 goals at an average of 2.0 per game, whereas Monaco have allowed 10, or 1.11 per match.

Monaco have also scored more goals than Le Mans across their nine previous meetings, adding to their historical advantage in this fixture.

Le Mans’ position near the bottom of the table, their defensive record and the difference in points all count against the hosts. Monaco have the better overall record, a more favourable head-to-head history and greater stability across the opening nine rounds.

The prediction is therefore a Monaco victory.

PSG welcome Troyes to Parc des Princes on Saturday, 7 November, with the Ligue 1 leaders looking to maintain their strong run in the 10th round of the season.

The Parisian side are clear favourites after collecting 20 points from their opening nine matches. PSG have won six games, drawn two and lost one, scoring 21 goals and conceding 10 for a goal difference of +11.

Their recent form has been particularly impressive. PSG have won 13 of their past 20 matches, alongside three draws and four defeats, while their current run includes a 6-0 victory over Villarreal and a 5-1 win against Le Havre. They have also gone 10 matches without dropping points in all competitions.

Troyes face a considerably tougher challenge. They sit 16th in the table with eight points, having recorded two victories, two draws and five defeats. Their goal difference is -1, with seven goals scored and 16 conceded.

Across their last 20 matches, Troyes have won nine, drawn five and lost six. However, the visitors have shown inconsistent form and have struggled when facing teams near the top of the table.

The numbers behind the game

PSG’s 21 goals in nine Ligue 1 matches represent an average of 2.33 per game. Troyes have scored 0.78 goals per match, with seven in total.

At the other end of the pitch, PSG have conceded 10 goals at an average of 1.11 per game. Troyes have allowed 16, equating to 1.78 per match.

The contrast is also reflected in the standings, with PSG first on 20 points and Troyes 16th on eight. Over their last 20 games, PSG’s record is 13 wins, three draws and four defeats – success rates of 65%, 15% and 20% respectively.

Troyes’ equivalent figures are nine wins, five draws and six defeats, or 45%, 25% and 30%. PSG have also won each of their last 10 matches.

Prediction

PSG hold a substantial advantage in quality, league position and current form. Their recent performances have included several high-scoring victories, and they have won 13 of their last 20 games.

The expected outcome is a home victory by at least two goals. The recommended result is PSG to win with a -1.5 handicap.

Mikel Arteta has assessed Viktor Gyokeres’ performance after the Arsenal striker was named player of the match in the 2-1 Champions League victory over Slavia.

The Sweden international set up Noni Madueke for Arsenal’s opening goal in the ninth minute before scoring himself in the 38th minute.

Gyokeres’ influential contribution came despite his limited number of starts in the Premier League. The 28-year-old has made 13 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this campaign, scoring two goals and providing three assists.

Arteta shared his view on Gyokeres’ display after the forward played a decisive role in the win.

Manchester City head coach Enzo Maresca says the team must improve after their hard-fought 3-2 victory away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League.

Erling Haaland scored the winning goal in the 78th minute to secure victory for the visitors on Wednesday.

Maresca, who took charge of Manchester City in July, replaced Pep Guardiola after his predecessor’s 10-year spell at the club.

“I need to get to know the players better, and they need to get to know me,” the Italian said.

Erling Haaland praised Manchester City team-mate Elliot Anderson after the midfielder provided the assist for the winning goal in their 3-2 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.

Anderson set up Haaland in the 78th minute, with the Norway striker’s goal giving Manchester City the decisive advantage in a closely contested match.

The English midfielder joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest in July this year. The transfer fee was €135m.

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior is enduring a prolonged dip in form, having failed to score since August and struggling to produce the dynamic performances normally associated with him.

According to Madrid Zone, the 26-year-old has not completed a successful dribble in any of his past three Champions League appearances. It is the longest such run since he joined the Spanish club.

Vinicius moved to Real Madrid from Brazilian side Flamengo in 2018. Last summer, the forward signed a new contract with the club that runs until the middle of 2032.

He played 82 minutes in Wednesday’s match against AEK but did not register a goal or assist.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has outlined his plans for the starting line-up ahead of Saturday’s La Liga meeting with Valencia.

The Spanish side will travel again for the fixture after beating AEK Athens 3-2 away in the Champions League on Wednesday. Federico Valverde scored the decisive goal in the 92nd minute to secure victory.

Real Madrid’s next match against Valencia will take place on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 23:00 Moscow time.

Streamer Inaki Angulo could face a €60,000 fine and a two-year ban from similar activity over alleged homophobic insults and discriminatory comments directed at footballer Hector Bellerin.

The case concerns remarks Angulo is alleged to have made during the match between Real and Betis. Although Bellerin was not named directly, the defender responded to the comments by filing a complaint against the content creator.

The statements have been examined by the Permanent Commission of the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport.

Among its recommendations is a €60,000 penalty for Angulo, together with a two-year prohibition on carrying out similar activity, according to derbyderbyderby.it.

Massimiliano Allegri has lost seven of his 14 matches in charge of Napoli after the Italian side were beaten 4-1 by Porto at the Dragao.

The result leaves Allegri with a disappointing record since taking over as Napoli manager, with half of his games ending in defeat.

The figure is notable because Allegri has already experienced a similar spell with Napoli although this time as a player. To find the last comparable record, it is necessary to go back 29 years to the 1997-98 season.

Allegri spent that campaign with Napoli, in what was his only season at the club. He made just seven appearances during the season.

Napoli’s next fixture will be against another team known for wearing blue, Manchester City.

Former Italy footballer Paolo Di Canio believes relations between some Napoli players have deteriorated, with the club’s Italian players reportedly unhappy with Kevin De Bruyne’s conduct.

De Bruyne has played for Napoli since 2025.

Rasmus Højlund said everyone must take responsibility after Napoli were beaten 4-1 by Porto.

The Denmark striker, who has played for Napoli since 2026, gave his assessment following the disappointing result for the Italian side.

Tensions at Napoli boiled over during their match against Porto when Lorenzo Lucca confronted Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian midfielder did not pass to him.

De Bruyne responded by repeatedly spreading his arms, apparently mocking a gesture made by Lucca. The pair came close to a physical confrontation, with the striker reportedly asking: “What are you talking about?” before telling De Bruyne to go away.

The incident ended there, but it highlighted the apparent lack of composure currently affecting Massimiliano Allegri’s squad.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes the club can help Kylian Mbappe win the Ballon d’Or next year.

Mbappe came close to claiming the prestigious individual award this year, finishing second in the voting behind Harry Kane. The France forward was beaten by 28 points.

The 2025 Ballon d’Or voting saw Kane take first place, while Mbappe’s performances have continued to strengthen his case for the prize.

Mbappe has scored 16 goals and provided three assists in 15 appearances for Real Madrid this season.

He was on target again on Wednesday as Real Madrid secured a 3-2 victory over AEK in the Champions League, helping the Spanish side claim a narrow win.

Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has addressed the difficulties facing team-mate Vinicius Junior after the club’s Champions League match against AEK.

Real Madrid secured a 3-2 comeback victory, but Vinicius was unable to end his current run without a goal or an assist.

The Brazilian winger played 82 minutes before being substituted. His most recent goal for Real Madrid came at the end of August.

Barcelona will officially extend Raphinha Dias’ contract until 30 June 2030, with the agreement to be signed at the club on Thursday, 5 November.

The Brazilian forward will complete the formalities in the office of Barcelona president Joan Laporta. The club confirmed the ceremony on its official website, adding that Raphinha will speak to the media afterwards.

Raphinha has played for Barcelona since joining the Catalan club in the summer of 2022. His existing contract is due to expire in the summer of 2028, meaning the new agreement will extend his stay by a further two years.

The forward has made 10 appearances in the Spanish league this season, scoring 15 goals and providing three assists for his team-mates.

Alioune Toure has taken up the position of sporting director at Wydad Football Academy, beginning a new phase for the youth development system of one of Morocco’s most successful clubs.

The former Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City player has been appointed to help strengthen and revitalise the development of young players at the Moroccan club. The Frenchman of Malian origin is taking on his third project in Africa, following previous roles with Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Senegal and Etoiles du Mande in Mali.

In an exclusive interview with Africafoot, Toure discussed his experience of youth development on the continent and outlined his ambitions for his new role in Morocco.

Building a new generation at Wydad

Toure’s coaching career followed a playing journey that began at Clairefontaine, where he spent time between 1992 and 1994. He joined the FC Nantes academy in 1995 before progressing into the club’s performance group and competing in Ligue 1.

He later played for Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, experiences that shaped his understanding of elite-level football and player development.

After ending his playing career, Toure moved into coaching. In 2012, he joined Chinese first-division club Shanghai Shenhua as an assistant coach.

His latest challenge will focus on the structure and progress of young players at Wydad Football Academy. The project forms part of his wider work in African football, where he has already been involved in developing players who went on to enter the professional game.

A third African project

Before arriving in Morocco, Toure worked with Paris Saint-Germain Academy in Senegal and Etoiles du Mande in Mali. His time at both organisations gave him experience of developing players in different football environments across the continent.

At Wydad, he will now seek to build on that experience and contribute to the development of a new generation for the Casablanca club.

Wydad is the most decorated club in the Botola Pro, with 35 titles, and has also won the Coupe du Trone over a period of 30 years. The academy project therefore comes within one of the leading institutions in Moroccan football.

Morocco’s growing football structure

Toure described Morocco as a country with a strong football culture and said its domestic game had no reason to feel inferior to major European leagues.

He also pointed to the increasing organisation of youth development in the country, particularly since Fouzi Lekjaa became president of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football.

That development has helped Morocco win several youth trophies on the continent, as well as a FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Toure’s experience across sub-Saharan Africa and Morocco has given him the opportunity to observe the differences between the two environments. He has already helped players from Etoiles du Mande and Paris Saint-Germain Academy move into professional football, and will aim to continue that work at Wydad Football Academy.

Aboubakary Koita made history on Wednesday by becoming the first Mauritanian player to score in the UEFA Champions League.

The AEK Athens forward achieved the landmark during his side’s league-phase meeting with Real Madrid on the fourth matchday, finding the net against one of European football’s most decorated clubs.

Koita needed only 12 minutes to make his mark. His early goal put AEK Athens in front and left the Spanish side facing an unexpected setback at the start of the match.

The effort was significant beyond its impact on the game. It made Koita the first player from Mauritania to score in the history of the Champions League, securing his place in the country’s football records.

Real Madrid recover to claim victory

AEK Athens managed to take the lead twice during the contest, but could not maintain their advantage until the final whistle. Real Madrid eventually used their experience and attacking strength to turn the match around and win 3-2.

The defeat meant Koita’s historic goal did not produce a result for his club, but the individual achievement remained a defining moment of the evening. It was a performance that gave Mauritanian football a notable presence on one of European club football’s biggest stages.

Scoring in a competition featuring leading clubs and players from across the world is a major achievement in itself. Koita’s goal carried additional significance because it came against Real Madrid, adding further weight to an already historic occasion.

His strike provided Mauritania with its first Champions League goal by one of its players and represented a symbolic step for the country’s football on the European stage.

Although AEK Athens were ultimately beaten, Koita’s finish is likely to remain one of the most memorable moments of the fourth matchday in the Champions League.

Yaya Toure has endured a difficult start to life as Slovan Bratislava manager, losing each of his first four Champions League matches by at least three goals.

The former Cote d’Ivoire international has become the first coach in the competition’s history to suffer defeats in his opening four games, with a margin of three or more goals in every match, according to Foot Mercato.

Toure, who was the first African coach to take charge from the bench during the main phase of the Champions League, began his European campaign with a heavy loss against Paris Saint-Germain. Slovan Bratislava were beaten 6-1 in that opening fixture.

The Slovakian club then lost 3-0 to Stuttgart before recording identical 4-0 defeats against AS Roma and LASK.

Across those four matches, Slovan Bratislava have conceded 17 goals and scored only once. The sequence has left Toure with a record he would have preferred to avoid as he begins his transition from elite player to manager.

The Ivorian was one of the leading midfielders of his generation, achieving major success with FC Barcelona and Manchester City. However, his first experience of managing in the Champions League has placed him in the competition’s record books for an unwanted reason.

A demanding challenge ahead

Toure now faces the task of finding a response to a run of results that has exposed the scale of the challenge facing Slovan Bratislava against Europe’s strongest teams.

The four defeats have raised questions over whether the club can compete with the continent’s leading sides. The immediate priority for the former champion is to identify solutions, improve the team’s defensive performances and restore confidence within the squad.

Although Toure’s name has already entered Champions League history, the record has come during a difficult introduction to the competition. His next challenge will be to ensure that an unwanted statistic does not define his time in charge of Slovan Bratislava.

Bilal El Khannouss has indicated that Galatasaray would be his only option in Turkey, despite VfB Stuttgart’s 2-0 defeat by the Istanbul club in the Champions League.

The Morocco midfielder discussed his future after the match in an interview with HT Spor. While no transfer has been announced, El Khannouss made clear that, should he move to the Turkish league, he would want to join Galatasaray.

Stuttgart rue missed opportunities

Stuttgart were beaten by Galatasaray, but El Khannouss felt the German side had not been outplayed throughout the match.

He acknowledged that his team needed to be more effective in the decisive moments, particularly when opportunities arose in the final third. However, he also believed Stuttgart had shown enough on the pitch to suggest the result did not fully reflect their performance.

The midfielder expressed disappointment at the side’s lack of efficiency, while praising the attitude and effort displayed by his team-mates during the game.

‘Only Galatasaray’ in Turkey

El Khannouss was also asked about Galatasaray’s interest in signing him. The question followed reports from Africafoot that the Turkish club had made an offer for him during the previous summer transfer window.

The player initially avoided giving a definitive response. When asked more directly whether he could see himself moving to Turkey, however, he was considerably clearer about his preference.

El Khannouss said that if he were to play in the Turkish league, it would be exclusively for Galatasaray.

The comment is likely to attract attention among Morocco supporters, although there is currently no confirmed transfer involving the Stuttgart midfielder. His remarks instead reveal the club he would favour if he were eventually to continue his career in the Turkish championship.

Galatasaray are due to play Amedspor in the 11th round of the Turkish league.

Adil Bourabaa is progressing well in his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on an injury suffered with Algeria, but the Le Mans midfielder is already planning the next stage of his career.

The young international wants to join a more ambitious club next season, with a side competing in a European competition his preferred destination. He also hopes such a move would help him establish himself more firmly with Algeria.

Bourabaa was injured during Algeria’s friendly against Niger in September last year. The problem required an operation and brought an abrupt end to a highly promising start to the campaign with Le Mans.

His recovery is now proceeding as expected. Speaking to Maghreb-Foot, his agent Souleymane Ba offered an optimistic assessment of the player’s rehabilitation. Bourabaa has already begun his recovery programme, although he still has more work to complete before he can consider returning to competitive football.

The injury interrupted a period in which the midfielder had been producing a series of encouraging performances for Le Mans. His displays had begun to confirm the potential he had shown previously, while also suggesting he was developing into a more influential player in French football.

Rather than allowing the setback to derail his progress, Bourabaa sees the rehabilitation period as part of the route towards his longer-term ambitions. A source close to the situation told Maghreb-Foot that the player already has a clear idea of what he wants to achieve next.

His priority for next season is to move to a club with greater sporting ambitions, preferably one involved in European competition. Such a transfer would offer him the chance to increase his visibility, test himself at a higher level and continue his development.

Bourabaa also believes that progressing to a bigger club could strengthen his position with the national team. Regular playing time at a higher level would, in his view, improve his prospects of becoming a permanent part of the Algeria set-up and consolidating his role in the plans of the national-team coach.

Despite his wider ambitions, France remains his preferred destination. According to the same source, Bourabaa would like to stay in the country while joining a leading Ligue 1 project. Remaining in French football would allow him to continue adapting to its demands while taking another step forward in his career.

For now, his immediate focus is a full recovery rather than a rushed return. Once he is fit, however, his objectives are clear: regain his best form, attract interest from an ambitious club and reach a higher level for both Le Mans and Algeria.

Le Mans are due to face AS Monaco in their 10th-round French league match shortly.