Ligue 1 Roundup: Pogba Makes Emotional Monaco Return As PSG Strengthens Lead

‎Paul Pogba made his first appearance in over two years for Monaco in a 4-1 defeat at Rennes, while Paris Saint-Germain continued their pursuit of the Ligue 1 title with a convincing 3-0 victory over Le Havre.

‎Pogba’s Emotional Return

‎Paul Pogba’s journey back to the pitch has been far from smooth. His career had been disrupted by injuries, a doping suspension, and a personal extortion case, making his return to professional football one of the most anticipated in recent years.

‎Pogba came on as a late substitute in the 85th minute at Roazhon Park, receiving a warm ovation from fans who appreciated his resilience and talent.

‎“Football isn’t over for me. We’ve worked hard, we’ve waited more than two years to get back, and today it finally happened. Thank God,” Pogba said, visibly moved by the reception.

‎The 2018 World Cup winner expressed his gratitude to the supporters, noting how much their applause meant to him after such a long absence from the game.

‎Pogba’s last professional appearance was more than two years ago, and his return comes after a turbulent period. In August 2023, he failed a drug test while at Juventus and was initially handed a four-year ban, later reduced to 18 months.

‎Juventus subsequently terminated his contract, cutting short a second stint in Turin that had been plagued by injuries and off-field issues. Adding to the personal challenges, his brother Mathias Pogba was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for his role in an extortion attempt targeting Paul in 2022.

‎Monaco, however, offered Pogba a chance to reignite his career once his suspension ended in March 2025. Coach Sebastien Pocognoli opted for a cautious approach, bringing Pogba on late with Monaco trailing and down to ten men.

‎Despite the 4-1 defeat, Pogba’s return was a symbolic win, marking the first step in regaining full fitness and competitiveness.

‎Monaco’s Struggles Continue

‎Monaco found themselves outclassed by Rennes, who were clinical in front of goal. Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal and Mahdi Camara gave the hosts a commanding lead before Denis Zakaria’s red card further complicated matters.

‎Breel Embolo added a third, and Ludovic Blas converted a penalty to make it 4-0. Monaco managed a late consolation goal through Mika Biereth, which came shortly after Pogba’s introduction.

‎“It’s great… the return of Paul Pogba, but I play for Monaco that’s my team, and I hate losing,” Pogba remarked.

‎“I’m relieved to be back playing football, the thing I love most in the world. But there’s still work to do to get back to full fitness, play 90 minutes, and help the team as much as possible.”

‎Monaco’s struggles reflect a wider inconsistency this season, with injuries and suspensions leaving the squad thin and reliant on new arrivals and returning players like Pogba.

‎PSG Holds Onto Ligue 1 Lead

‎Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain maintained their spot at the top of the table, reclaiming first place with a 3-0 victory over Le Havre. Goals from Lee Kang-in, Joao Neves, and Bradley Barcola secured the win, allowing PSG to regain a two-point cushion over Marseille and Lens.

‎Elsewhere, Lens edged Strasbourg 1-0 thanks to a second-half winner from Ismaelo Ganiou, with both teams finishing the match with ten men after late red cards. Marseille also impressed, thrashing Nice 5-1 with Mason Greenwood scoring twice to become Ligue 1’s top scorer with ten goals this season.

‎Drama at the Bottom and Mid-Table Battles

‎The fight for survival in Ligue 1 provided late drama. Brest secured a 3-2 victory over Metz with Romain del Castillo scoring a 10th-minute stoppage-time penalty, following an earlier penalty miss. Nantes and Lorient played out a 1-1 draw, with Nigerian defender, Chidozie Awaziem redeeming an earlier own-goal.

‎Angers grabbed a narrow 1-0 win at Toulouse, climbing level with the hosts on 16 points.

‎Lyon, on the other hand, continued their struggles, extending a winless run to five games after a 0-0 draw against bottom-placed Auxerre.

‎Dominik Greif’s crucial penalty save kept Lyon from slipping further behind, but the team’s issues with injuries and suspensions continue to hamper their campaign.