Injury-Plagued Paul Pogba Nears Return for Monaco After Four-Month Absence Paul Pogba, the French midfielder, is on the verge of making his first competitive appearance for Monaco since December 2025 after a prolonged injury layoff. The 33-year-old, who joined the club in 2025, has faced significant challenges this season due to a persistent calf injury, which has limited his involvement in Ligue 1 matches. Despite his absence, Pogba has made progress in his recovery, with his fitness levels improving enough to warrant consideration for the upcoming match against Marseille. The former Manchester United and Juventus star has managed only 30 minutes of Ligue 1 action this season, with his last competitive appearance coming on December 5 against Brest. His return to form has been marked by a friendly match on March 26, where he played 25 minutes and scored a goal against Brentford’s U23 side. This performance signaled a positive step in his rehabilitation, giving hope that he could soon rejoin the first team. Monaco manager Sebastien Pocognoli confirmed that Pogba is now a viable option for the club’s next fixture, a Ligue 1 clash against Marseille on April 10. Speaking ahead of the match, Pocognoli provided an update on Pogba’s condition, stating, “He is available. There are still three sessions left, but he has been training continuously with the group since the start of the international break. Given the positive process, it’s a possibility he’ll be in the squad, yes. If he’s not there, it will mean we’ve decided together that everything isn’t quite ready for him to play in a league match yet. For now, there are no contraindications and things are going well. It’s still open.” Pogba’s potential return could prove crucial for Monaco as they navigate the final stretch of the season.#ligue_1 #monaco #sebastien_pocognoli #marseille #paul_pogba
Marseille Exit Coupe de France After Penalty Shootout Defeat to Toulouse Marseille were eliminated from the Coupe de France in a penalty shootout against Toulouse following a 2-2 draw in their quarterfinal match. The hosts took an early lead in the 2nd minute when Mason Greenwood converted a penalty after being fouled in the box. Toulouse equalized in the 13th minute as Yann Gboho scored from close range following a missed header by Charlie Cresswell. Marseille regained the advantage in the 56th minute through Igor Paixão’s curling strike, but the lead was short-lived as Cresswell headed in Aron Donnum’s corner just four minutes later. The teams remained deadlocked in regular time, with both sides failing to find a winner. Emersonn’s effort went wide, and Greenwood had two attempts that missed the target. The match was decided in the penalty shootout, where both teams had opportunities to score. Leonardo Balerdi and Cristian Casseres had their penalties saved, setting the stage for the decisive round. Marseille’s Ethan Nwaneri missed his spot-kick, sending the ball high and wide, while Toulouse’s loanee from Arsenal secured the shootout victory. The result marked the end of Marseille’s hopes of winning silverware in the competition, with Toulouse advancing to the final four. The match saw several key moments, including Nayef Aguerd’s header that went wide and Arthur Vermeeren’s near miss after rattling the post. Himad Abdelli’s shot was saved by Kjetil Haug, and Gerónimo Rulli made a crucial stop on Rasmus Nicolaisen’s attempt. Despite their efforts, Marseille’s inability to convert their final penalty sealed their exit, ending their campaign in the quarterfinals.#toulouse #marseille #mason_greenwood #yann_gboho #igor_paixao
Coupe de France: Marseille cherche un titre après 14 ans, Lyon affronte Lens en quart de finale Marseille, qui n’a pas remporté la Coupe de France depuis 2012, tente de briser sa longue disette en quart de finale contre Toulouse, mercredi, après avoir remporté un match crucial en Ligue 1 contre l’OL. L’OM, dirigé par le nouveau entraîneur Habib Beye, a interrompu une série négative en s’imposant dans les dernières secondes, un contraste avec les pertes répétées de points et de confiance cette saison. L’équipe, qui reste fragile, doit éviter de reproduire l’erreur de 2023, où elle s’est effondrée à domicile contre un club de L2, Annecy, après avoir éliminé le PSG. Le tableau de la Coupe de France s’est ouvert après l’élimination du Paris Saint-Germain, vainqueur de huit des onze dernières éditions. Marseille espère profiter de cette ouverture pour écrire une nouvelle page de son histoire. Cependant, le Téfécé, un adversaire redoutable, a démontré sa capacité à prendre des points au Vélodrome en fin de match cette saison. Les Phocéens doivent également gérer leur fragilité, rappelant que leur dernier quart de finale en 2023 s’est soldé par une défaite. Le choc entre Lyon et Lens, deux grands prétendants, se déroulera jeudi. Les deux clubs, respectivement troisième et deuxième de L1, connaissent un léger coup d’arrêt. L’OL, après une série de treize victoires, a subi deux défaites consécutives, tandis que Lens, qui n’a jamais remporté la Coupe de France, a perdu ses trois finales historiques. Les deux équipes cherchent à corriger leur sort et à se qualifier pour la finale. Dans le premier quart de finale, Strasbourg affrontera Reims, le seul représentant des ligues inférieures. Les Alsaciens, en lice pour l’Europe, ont l’occasion de confirmer leur bon état de forme malgré le changement d’entraîneur.#lens #lyon #coupe_de_france #toulouse #marseille
