Monaco will look to strengthen its position at the top of the French championship when they host Lens at Stade Louis II on Friday, 18 September 2026.

The match, part of the fifth round, will be refereed by Clement Turpin.

Monaco have collected 10 points from their opening four games and share first place with Lille. They have won three matches and drawn one, remaining unbeaten so far this season. Their goal difference is not specified.

The hosts have won 11 of their past 20 matches, giving them a 55% win rate over that period. Their recent results include a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg, a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, a 2-0 win against Marseille and a 4-1 success against Gornik Zabrze.

Alexander Golovin is expected to make another decisive contribution for Monaco as the team attempt to continue their strong start.

Lens face a significantly tougher task after collecting four points from their first four fixtures. They are 10th in the table, with one victory, one draw and two defeats.

Their only win came in the opening round, and they have failed to record another successful result since then. The visitors have been inconsistent, with their results alternating between wins and defeats.

Head-to-head record

Monaco and Lens have met 30 times. Monaco have won 14 of those matches, representing 46.7% of the encounters, while Lens have recorded eight victories, or 26.6%. The remaining eight games ended in draws, accounting for 26.7%.

The most recent meeting took place on 21 February 2026, when Monaco won 3-2.

Monaco enter this fixture in excellent form and remain unbeaten in the current season. With the home side sharing top spot and Lens struggling for consistency, the prediction is for a Monaco victory.

The article provides no specific betting prices for the match. It states that free access is available through bookmakers after quick registration and lists Winline and Fon.bet as sources.

Paris Saint-Germain have decided to centre their Ballon d’Or campaign on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele, despite 10 of the club’s players being included among the nominees.

The Ballon d’Or will be presented in London at the end of October. The Touchline, citing Le Parisien, reports that PSG have chosen to concentrate their promotional efforts on Kvaratskhelia and Dembele.

Dembele won the award last year and is seeking further recognition after another successful period for the club.

PSG have won the Champions League in each of the past two seasons, beating Inter in one final and Arsenal in the other.

The club’s next match is scheduled for 20 September, when they will travel to face Marseille.

Former Spartak Moscow defender and football expert Eduard Mor has said Matvey Safonov could be released from the Russia national team after the goalkeeper’s appearance in the upcoming BETBOOM friendly against Iran.

Safonov, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, has been called up for Russia’s forthcoming international fixtures. Mor said: “After this match, Safonov can be released from the Russia national team.”

Russia, managed by Valery Karpin, will begin their friendly schedule against Iran on 29 September. The match will be played at the stadium in Kazan.

The national team will also face Namibia and Nigeria, with both fixtures scheduled to take place at the beginning of October.

Lens have dismissed first-team head coach Dino Toppmoller, with the German and the club agreeing to terminate his contract by mutual consent.

Toppmoller was appointed in June 2026. During his brief tenure, Lens won the French Super Cup for the first time.

Results in Ligue 1, however, have been less encouraging. Lens have collected four points from their opening four matches and are 10th in the table.

Yannick Cahuzac will oversee preparations for Lens’ next fixture, against Ligue 1 leaders Monaco on Friday, 18 September.

Lens have dismissed first-team head coach Dino Toppmoller, with the German and the club agreeing to terminate his contract by mutual consent.

Toppmoller was appointed in June 2026. During his brief tenure, Lens won the French Super Cup for the first time.

Results in Ligue 1, however, have been less encouraging. Lens have collected four points from their opening four matches and are 10th in the table.

Yannick Cahuzac will oversee preparations for Lens’ next fixture, against Ligue 1 leaders Monaco on Friday, 18 September.

Lens have dismissed first-team head coach Dino Toppmoller, with the German and the club agreeing to terminate his contract by mutual consent.

Toppmoller was appointed in June 2026. During his brief tenure, Lens won the French Super Cup for the first time.

Results in Ligue 1, however, have been less encouraging. Lens have collected four points from their opening four matches and are 10th in the table.

Yannick Cahuzac will oversee preparations for Lens’ next fixture, against Ligue 1 leaders Monaco on Friday, 18 September.

Lens head coach Dino Toppmoller is set to be dismissed after just 28 days in the role, according to SO FOOT.

The German has overseen six matches since taking charge. If his departure is confirmed, Toppmoller could set Lens’ shortest managerial reign since the end of the Second World War.

The current record belongs to Guy Roux, who managed seven matches in charge of the club in 2007.

The decision to remove Toppmoller comes as a surprise because Lens have prioritised stability in recent years. The coach had also been working with a squad weakened by a high number of injuries at the start of the season.

One possible source of tension was Toppmoller’s assistant, Nelson Morgado. The club’s leadership allegedly wanted to remove Morgado from the coaching staff because of problems with communication and his relationship with the team.

Toppmoller is believed to have opposed the move because of his close ties to his assistant.

Jean-Louis Leca, who was previously part of Lens’ coaching staff, could take temporary charge of the team.

RC Lens have ended Dino Toppmoller’s time as head coach after only six matches in charge, with the Ligue 1 club announcing the decision on Tuesday.

The midfielder-turned-manager’s departure was agreed by both parties after discussions about the squad and the structure of his coaching staff. Lens said they had proposed changes to the organisation of the coaching set-up, but Toppmoller was unable to accept them.

“In a spirit of mutual respect, Racing Club de Lens and Dino Toppmoller announce, by mutual agreement, the end of their collaboration,” the club said in a statement.

Lens added: “As Dino Toppmoller could not agree to these structural changes, the Club, acting responsibly, has decided to bring his role to an end, as well as that of his two assistants.”

The 45-year-old German was appointed in June after Pierre Sage left Lens to join Premier League side Crystal Palace. Sage had guided the club to a historic French Cup triumph and a second-place finish in Ligue 1.

Toppmoller had been contracted until 2028 and began his tenure with an impressive 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophee des Champions last month.

However, Lens won only one of their opening four Ligue 1 matches under him. They made a winning start to their Champions League campaign by beating Slavia Prague 3-2 in a dramatic match.

The club are 10th in the Ligue 1 table before Friday’s trip to Monaco. Yannick Cahuzac, who had served as Toppmoller’s assistant, will take charge from the dugout for that fixture.

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov has been included in WhoScored’s Ligue 1 team of the week after earning a rating of 8.4 for his performance against Brest.

PSG edged past the Breton side at the weekend, with Safonov keeping a clean sheet in an impressive display. Only three of the 11 players selected in WhoScored’s team of the week received a higher rating for their performances in the latest round of Ligue 1 matches.

Safonov established himself as PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper during last season. He has played seven matches in the current campaign, conceding nine goals in total.

The match against Brest was the only one of those appearances in which the 25-year-old kept a clean sheet.

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov has been included in WhoScored’s Ligue 1 team of the week after earning a rating of 8.4 for his performance against Brest.

PSG edged past the Breton side at the weekend, with Safonov keeping a clean sheet in an impressive display. Only three of the 11 players selected in WhoScored’s team of the week received a higher rating for their performances in the latest round of Ligue 1 matches.

Safonov established himself as PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper during last season. He has played seven matches in the current campaign, conceding nine goals in total.

The match against Brest was the only one of those appearances in which the 25-year-old kept a clean sheet.

Monaco striker Paris Brunner has apologised after making a throat-slitting gesture towards Strasbourg supporters following his goal in a 1-1 French championship draw.

The 20-year-old German equalised in the 71st minute with an impressive long-range strike before running towards the Strasbourg fans and moving his thumb across his throat.

The incident could be referred to the LFP disciplinary committee, which may consider whether Brunner should face punishment.

After the match, Brunner said the gesture came in response to insults directed at his parents by Strasbourg supporters.

The forward later apologised for his actions on social media. It is not yet known whether he will receive a fine or a suspension.

Matvey Safonov has been nominated for the Lev Yashin Trophy, awarded annually to the world’s best goalkeeper, with prominent coach Valery Gazzaev offering his assessment of the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper’s bid for the prestigious prize.

The award was won last year by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Safonov joined Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 and has since established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper after winning the competition for a starting place.

The Russian has also collected nine trophies with Paris Saint-Germain.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi has been diagnosed with a minor strain to his right thigh after being injured during the Ligue 1 match against Brest.

The club published the results of the Morocco international’s medical examination on its official website on Monday.

Hakimi will undergo treatment over the next two days. Paris Saint-Germain said it would provide a further update on his condition afterwards.

Luis Enrique’s side are due to return to Ligue 1 action on Sunday, 20 September, when they travel to face Marseille.

Paris Saint-Germain have collected five points from their opening four Ligue 1 matches.

Dynamo goalkeeper Andrey Lunev says Matvey Safonov’s nomination for last season’s best goalkeeper award is “worthy of admiration and respect”.

Safonov, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, is among the candidates for the prize after establishing himself on the international stage. The winner will be announced on 26 October at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The 26-year-old has made seven appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in all competitions during the new season and has kept one clean sheet.

Lunev, who currently represents Dynamo, was asked to respond to Safonov’s nomination and praised the achievement.

“Worthy of admiration and respect,” Lunev said.

Safonov’s market value is estimated at 30 million euros, according to Transfermarkt. That figure places him eighth in the ranking of the world’s most valuable goalkeepers.

The nomination gives Safonov the opportunity to be recognised among the leading players in his position worldwide, with the final decision due to be made at the Ballon d’Or ceremony on 26 October.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique said Matvey Safonov’s impressive display against Brest came as no surprise after the Russian goalkeeper made six saves in a narrow 1-0 victory.

The match, played in the fourth round of the French championship, was decided by a single goal as Paris Saint-Germain secured all three points.

“For me, there is nothing surprising about it,” Luis Enrique said when asked about Safonov’s saves.

Safonov has made seven appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in all competitions this season. He has conceded nine goals and kept one clean sheet.

Ousmane Dembele has reflected on the work behind his rise to success, saying he has allowed his performances to speak for him throughout his career.

“Throughout my career, I have not said a word, I have simply worked hard,” said the Paris Saint-Germain forward.

The 29-year-old has played six matches in all competitions this season, scoring two goals and providing four assists.

After four rounds of the French championship, Paris Saint-Germain are seventh in the table with five points.

Dembele: “A very underrated player”

Russian football coach Yuri Semin does not believe Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov will be named the best goalkeeper of the year by France Football.

Safonov has been included in the shortlist for the award covering the previous season, placing the 27-year-old among the leading goalkeepers in the world.

However, Semin said the nomination itself represented a significant achievement for both Safonov and Russian football.

“It is already a serious accomplishment for Safonov himself and for Russian football,” the experienced coach said.

Safonov has made seven appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in all competitions during the new season. He has conceded nine goals and kept one clean sheet.

The goalkeeper’s nomination comes ahead of the ceremony for the Ballon d’Or and other awards, which will take place on 26 October.

Former L’Equipe deputy editor-in-chief Jean-Philippe Leclerc has assessed Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov’s prospects of retaining the number-one spot at Paris Saint-Germain during the 2026/27 season.

Safonov has made four appearances in the current Ligue 1 campaign, conceding six goals. He has kept one clean sheet.

After four rounds of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain have five points and sit seventh in the table.

Journalist Jean-Philippe Leclerc, the former deputy editor-in-chief of L'Equipe, gave his assessment of Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov’s display in the 1-0 win against Brest.

“Safonov was under threat,” Leclerc said.

The 27-year-old has made four appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in the current Ligue 1 season, conceding six goals.

Luis Enrique’s side have collected five points and occupy seventh place in the Ligue 1 table.

Brest host Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Sunday, with the two sides separated by six places in the early table.

Brest have taken five points from their opening three matches and sit seventh. They began with back-to-back 2-2 draws against Le Mans and Toulouse before winning 2-1 away at Le Havre.

Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions of France, have made a less convincing start to their league campaign. They have collected only two points from their first three games and are 13th in the table.

The champions showed a different level in the Champions League, however, beating Slovan 6-1 at home.

The Ligue 1 fixture kicks off at 21:45 Moscow time on Sunday. Live coverage will be shown on the Okko Sport channel.

A free stream of the match is available on the Winline website, while LiveResult will provide text commentary.