The French Football Show

What a season it's been! To wrap things up, French football expert Matt Spiro tells us about his experience at Stade de France where he saw Lens win the Coupe de France for the first time in their history. A magical season for Pierre Sage's team and the scenes both n Saint-Dénis and then later in Lens were testimony both to what a fantastic club Lens are and also just how special the Coupe de France still is.Matt is then joined by broadcaster Tom Williams and commentator Andy Scott to preview the big one: PSG versus Arsenal on May 30. Who will win this season's Champions League final? And will the French still be talking about 'le back-to-back' (comme disent les anglais!!!!) at the final whistle in Budapest?Thanks for your support this season all! Don't forget the FFS is available on Youtube. Make sure you subscribe to our channel to get all the latest content when it lands!Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

The Ligue 1 season ended in typically manic fashion on Sunday: there were upsets aplenty, pitch invasions, resignations and even a nine-goal thriller. Matt, Andy and Tom reflect on a hugely entertaining year in France and select some of their best and worst moments. Watch the French Football Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

So, Ousmane Dembélé scooped the official Ligue 1 Player of the Season Award this week, but did the PSG star actually deserve it having only started nine league games? Matt, Andy and Tom meet up in ‘Le Corner Café’, in Paris’ 2nd Arrondissment to make their choices! They all also select the best young player and the best coach, as Matt tucks into a rather large serving of pavlova. We hear about the 16-year-old kid Mezian Mesloub who enjoyed a fairytale start to his professional career with Lens, before addressing the Ligue 1 latest with just one round of matches now left to play! PSG are set to be crowned champions, Lille, Lyon and Rennes can still make the Champions League, Monaco or Marseille could miss out on European football altogether, while Nice and Auxerre are left scrapping to avoid the dreaded relegation playoff.Watch on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

For years PSG tried and failed to win the Champions League. Their failures would often be spectacular. The club seemed to be cursed. Then Luis Enrique arrived. The brilliant Spanish manager has found the formula and transformed the destiny of Paris Saint-Germain. Ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, Matt, Tom and Andy examine the impact of the former Spain boss and ask if he is one of the modern-day managerial greats.There's also a World Cup Watch segment on Rennes winger Musa Al-Tamari, who is set to star for Jordan on their tournament debut this summer. The lads run the rule over the Round 32 action from Ligue 1 - which included a stunning goal from Al-Tamari and a capitulation from Marseille in Nantes.Watch the French Football Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

After Marseille's slump continued at home to Nice, Habib Beye's side look sure to miss out on the Champions League. Matt, Andy and Tom delve into a chaotic season in Marseille and look at what needs to happen to get this great club competing again at the summit of the French game.There's a focus on Strasbourg's stylish winger Diego Moreira, who is set to feature for Belgium at this summer's World Cup. Matt gets angry at Lens coach Pierre Sage for resting his best players against Brest - handing the initiative in the title race to Paris Saint-Germain. Luis Enrique's charges duly pulled clear at the top, easing past Angers and gearing up nicely for their European showdown with Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Tom and Andy are full of praise for Lille and Rennes, both of whom are competing with Lyon for the final automatic Champions League spot. Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

An eventful season at Strasbourg could now finish in glorious fashion. With the Alsace club through to the semi-finals of both the Europa Conference League and the Coupe de France, Matt, Tom and Andy wonder if Gary O'Neil's charges can make French football history in the next weeks? Rayo Vallecano and OGC Nice stand in their way of reaching two showpiece games. There's plenty to discuss in Ligue 1 as well: PSG's surprise defeat at home to Lyon has opened the door to Lens a little once again in the title race. Pierre Sage's side came from two down to beat ten-man Toulouse and return to within a point of the summit. Can Les Sang et Or repeat the performance against Le Téfécé in Tuesday's cup semi-final - and might their quest for a domestic double still be on? Lyon are now in the driving seat for automatic Champions League qualification. They climbed above Marseille, who lost at Lorient, and Lille, who were held by Nice. It was also a bad weekend for Monaco, as they could only draw at home to Auxerre. Watch out for Rennes, though! They are on the charge under Franck Haise and up to fifth. The half-time entertainment this week takes the form of a 'World Cup Watch' discussion on PSG's fantastic Ecuadorian defender William Pacho. The attackers are getting the attentions, but the formidible centre-half might just be PSG's best and most important recent signing. Watch the French Football Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

This week's episode is all about the famous 'Entente Cordiale'! With more English footballers thriving in France than ever before, Matt and Tom take at look at the reasons why there has been a sudden influx and ask if it is a good thing both for the English and French games.There's an exclusive chat with Lyon's midfield maestro Tyler Morton who has been exceptional since joining from Liverpool and - like Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell - is attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.Matt then has a rant about the old heads returning to Ligue 1 dugouts, before we take a close look at the European battle. With Lille, Marseille, Lyon and Rennes all winning, it was a bad time for Monaco to lose. But there will surely be more twists, and all five clubs have a chance of joining PSG and Lens in next season's Champions League.Andy Scott was too cold to join the team this week, but the intrepid Scottish commentator did send us a report from the Groupama Stadium. The lads also discuss a relegation battle that Nantes look like losing - and look forward to the week's big event: Liverpool vs PSG on Tuesday night.Click below to watch the full Tyler Morton interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Mbk62fkGs

Paris Saint-Germain's quest to win back-to-back Champions League crowns continues on Wednesday with the first leg of their quarter-final against Liverpool. Matt Spiro previews the big clash with Liverpool expert Dan Clubbe from Redmen TV in part 1 of the show. Can the Reds pick themselves up from their big FA Cup defeat at Manchester City? How do the English perceive PSG these days? Will Hugo Ekitiké return to haunt the capital club - and just what, exactly, has happened to Ibrahima Konaté? Matt and Dan answer those questions and more. Tom Williams and Andy Scott are also here to discuss our latest 'World Cup Watch' player: Monaco and France's brilliant playmaker Maghnes Akliouche. We admire Monaco striker Folarin Balogun after the USMNT international scored one of the goals of the season against Marseille, and look back at a ferocious 'Derby du Nord' that Lille dominated, striking a blow to Lens and their title challenge. Rennes also get some love after beating Brest 4-3. Enjoy another action packed FFS!Watch on Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

Didier Deschamps’ team flexed their attacking muscle by swatting aside Brazil and Colombia in the US with two completely different starting elevens. Should the rest of the world be worried? Are Les Bleus ready to clinch their third star this summer? Matt Spiro welcomes Tom Williams and Andy Scott onto the pod to discuss. Part 2 focuses on the coach who is preparing for his final tournament – Deschamps makes way to Zinedine Zidane this summer. Does he need a big tournament (and maybe even some free-flowing attacking football!) to secure his legacy as France’s greatest ever coach? Finally, there’s a ‘World Cup Watch’ feature on Strasbourg’s brilliant Argentine midfielder Valentin Barco.Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefrenchfootballshow

Champions for the last four seasons and current league leaders, Paris Saint-Germain have again requested that a league fixture be postponed in order to help them focus on a big European tie. The difference this time: the game in the middle of their Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool is a potential Ligue 1 title-decider against Lens.The Northern club, who sit one point behind PSG, have made it clear they want to play on April 11, as scheduled. The French League will have a meeting to decide this Thursday. This week, Matt, Tom and Andy ask if it is the right thing to do. Is helping PSG try to retain their Champions League crown even more important than ensuring the Ligue 1 title race is as competitive as possible?Our latest 'World Cup Watch' focuses on the Lille and Algeria midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, who - two years after suffering a heart attack - is playing the best football of his career.In Part 2, we delve into the battle for European qualification; it's tighter than ever now after Lille and Monaco secured big wins over Marseille and Lyon at the weekend.Watch and subscribe on Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

This week on The French Football Show, we dive into one of the most fascinating players in French football: Rayan Cherki.After his recent interview with France Football, Cherki once again reminded everyone that he sees the game differently - creative, unpredictable, and proudly individual. But in a sport increasingly dominated by systems, pressing structures, and tactical discipline, that raises a bigger question.Is there still room for mavericks in modern football?Matt Spiro and guests, Andy Scott and Tom Williams, explore Cherki’s unique style, why players like him often divide opinion, and whether the modern game still has space for football’s great individualists. Is Cherki France’s next superstar - or a throwback to a type of player football is slowly leaving behind?There's also a World Cup focus on Folarin Balogun, the US striker who is in red hot form for Monaco and primed to shine for his country on home soil this summer.In Part 2, we wonder if Lens have blown their title chances after losing in Lorient and take a close look at the compelling battle for Champions League qualification in the upper reaches of the Ligue 1 table.Watch the French Football Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

PSG look to be flagging at the wrong moment! After suffering their first home defeat of the Ligue 1 season at the hands of Monaco, Matt Spiro speaks to the former PSG defender Didier Domi to find out if he is worried about the upcoming Champions League tie with Chelsea. Matt and Didier have a great chat in Part 1 of the episode, and any concerned PSG fans will probably be reassured by the former Newcastle and Leeds player's words. Matt then goes on a rant as we hear the first 'FFS Moment' of our angry but fun new series. Then in Part 2, George Boxall and Jonathan Johnson pop in to run the rule over the Matchday 25 action in Ligue 1. It's worth tuning in, if only to hear about George's manic month reporting on madcap club Olympique de Marseille. JJ congratulates Lens for keeping the title race alive and wonders what Corentin Tolisso needs to do exactly to get a France recall. To watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

PSG's early elimination has lit a fire in the Coupe de France and this week's quarter-finals promise to be great. Matt, Tom and Andy ask if France's oldest competition - famed for its giant-killings - is in better health than ever. For Marseille and Lyon, neither of whom have won silverware since 2012, this year's edition is HUGE. Lens, who look likely to miss out on the title, have never won the Coupe de France. This week's 'le dossier' prepares you perfectly for the upcoming mouthwatering ties.There's a new 'World Cup Watch' feature this week as the panel pick out a Ligue 1 player to keep an eye on this summer; we begin with the Strasbourg and Argentina striker Joaquin Panichelli. And Part 2 brings us up to speed with the latest goings-on in Ligue 1 as we ask the major question: what is the French expression for 'new coach bounce'?Watch and subscribe on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

When Kylian Mbappé won the Ligue 1 title aged 18, then the World Cup at 19, it was assumed that this sensational footballer would go on to claim multiple Ballon d'Ors and Champions Leagues. But today - at 27 - he's still waiting. Host Matt Spiro and guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams ask the following questions: does Mbappé need to win a Ballon d'Or to be remembered as a true great? With Real Madrid fighting for honours and France well-equipped to flourish at the World Cup, is this the year he HAS to win it? There is more Ligue 1 chat in Part 2 as PSG move back to the top. It was a bad weekend for Lens who threw away a two-goal leads against Monaco, while Habib Beye and Franck Haise experience contrasting fortunes on their respective debuts in the dugouts for Marseille and Rennes. Finally, Lyon's winning run comes to a halt in Strasbourg. Subscribe to the FFS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShowGet in touch: [email protected]

There are just 12 games to play in France and Paris Saint-Germain are NOT top of the league. Racing Club de Lens are enjoying an extraordinary campaign. Host Matt Spiro, alongside guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams, uncover the secrets the northerners success this week and ask the big question: can Pierre Sage’s team go the distance and pull off one of the biggest surprises in modern football?In Part Two, the lads look back at a thrilling weekend in Ligue 1 that included a shock win for managerless Rennes over PSG, a 13th consecutive triumph for Lyon, against Nice, and yet more chaos in Marseille. The FFS is available to watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

French football was plunged into a terrible financial crisis in 2020 when, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, its domestic television broadcaster pulled out of the contract. With revenues from TV rights subsequently collapsing, the professional game in France is still suffering. Matt Spiro explains exactly what happened, and with the aid of guests Andy Scott and Jonathan Johnson, examines the bold intiative seized by the French league to take matters into its own hands: Ligue 1 is now the first major European league to have its own in-house television channel, Ligue 1+, rather than selling its rights to a traditional broadcaster or streaming service. How is the project going? Is this a model that the other European leagues will soon adopt as well? And where does it leaves the French clubs financially?After trying their best to answer those HUGE questions, Matt, Andy and JJ cast their expert eyes over the Round 21 action in Ligue 1, as PSG humiliate Marseille, Lens make it ten straight home wins, and Lyon triumph for a 12th successive game, despite the sending off of Endrick.Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

The FFS takes a deep dive into the chaotic world of Olympique de Marseille this week. After crashing out of the Champions League in Bruges, the volatile Mediterranean giants are plunging towards yet another crisis. Host Matt Spiro investigates with the help of his guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams: is there a method behind Marseille's madness and is Roberto De Zerbi the man to end the club's 14-year search for silverware? Part 2 of the show dissects the latest Ligue 1 action as PSG and Lens pull clear of the chasing pack. There's a special mention for impressive Lorient and the guys run the rule over the major last-minute transfer deals. Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TheFrenchFootballShow

This time last year, PSG beat Manchester City in stunning fashion and turned what had been a faltering season into the most successful campaign of the club's history. Once again, Luis Enrique's charges have been below par (and injury-plagued) in the first half of this current season. This week's discussion, Le Dossier, sees host Matt Spiro ask guests Andy Scott and Tom Williams if it is all part of the grand plan. Are PSG keeping their powder dry again? Or are the physical travails of the past year - and the lack of transfer activity - starting to catch up with them. The Parisians are back on top of the Ligue 1 standings after Lens lost in Round 19. The guys delve into another exciting Ligue 1 weekend that included an Endrick hattrick for Lyon, an impressive Marseille debut for Ethan Nwaneri, and an emphatic win for Strasbourg and their new coach Gary O'Neil, who is quickly getting to grips with French football... and even French referees!

He's the top-scorer in Ligue 1, the first Marseille striker to score twenty plus goals in back-to-back seasons for more than a decade, and yet many people find it hard to talk about - let along enthuse about - Mason Greenwood. The accusations levelled against the Englishman in the past have left a lot of observers feeling uneasy to say the least. But rather than ignore the subject, we dive in head first.Matt Spiro and his guests, Tom Williams and Baptiste Reynaud, offer their perspectives as professionals who cover the French game and report on Greenwood on a weekly basis. We hear from the Marseille-based journalist Mourad Aerts to discover the local view too. Interestingly, Greenwood is covered very differently in his homeland - where he is basically ignored by the UK press - compared to France where he is treated like a normal player. The majority of Marseille fans have even taken him to their hearts and Greenwood shirts continue to sell like hotcakes on the Vieux Port. Have a listen and let us know what you think.As always, the second part of the podcast is dedicated to Ligue 1, where RC Lens continue to set the pace at the top despite Ousmane Dembélé's brilliance for PSG against Lille.

This week, Matt and Tom are joined by Brazilian football expert Jack Lang to discuss the arrival of wonderkid Endrick at Lyon. The teenager scored on his debut in the Coupe de France against Lille and excitement is growing in the Rhone Valley. Could he be the missing piece in Lyon's jigsaw and will the Real Madrid loanee force his way into Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup plans? There's also a nod to Paris FC who knocked their neighbours out of the Coupe de Frace. With PSG out, the likes of Marseille and Monaco are suddenly fancying their cup chances. Plus, we pay our respects to Rolland Courbis, a veritable French footballing icon, who sadly passed away this week aged 72.

We kick off the new year with a new name. The French Football Show replaces Across the Channel — but fear not: it’s the same team, the same voices, and the same weekly deep dive into French football. The format has evolved slightly, but the aim remains unchanged: to be informative, opinionated, and above all, good fun.Each episode now centres on “le dossier” - an in-depth discussion of a major talking point in the French game - before we move on to review the latest Ligue 1 action.This week, French football experts Matt Spiro, Tom Williams and Andy Scott dissect Liam Rosenior’s surprise move to Chelsea, a decision that has left Strasbourg supporters furious. Is Rosenior the right fit for the West London club? How successful was his spell in Alsace? And, more fundamentally, have BlueCo shown a lack of respect towards Strasbourg? With fans calling for the president to resign, the panel also examines the wider implications of the multi-club ownership model - and wonders whether new boss Gary O’Neil truly knows what he’s signing up for.In the second half, we look back on a thrilling weekend of Ligue 1 action, with Lens and PSG pulling clear at the top and an in-form Lyon closing in on Marseille and Lille in the race for Champions League qualification. With Endrick set to arrive, we ask: could 2026 be the year of Lyon?

In this special edition, Matt Spiro speaks to Sébastien Bassong about his journey from the Paris suburbs to the Premier League via the Clairefontaine academy and FC Metz. The former Cameroon defender experienced so many highs and lows during his colourful career; he speaks candidly about the heartbreak of getting released from Clairefontaine and tells wonderful stories from his time at Newcastle where he soaked up the Geordie passion, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kevin Keegan, Alan Shearer and Michael Owen. At Spurs, Sébastien was charmed by Harry Redknapp, met a young Harry Kane and quickly learned that the best tactic was simply to 'give the ball to Luka Modric'. The latter years at Norwich were emotionally-charged too (and that's an understatement!). So sit back and enjoy this fascinating chat with friend of the podcast Monsieur Sébastien Bassong.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by French football journalists Jonathan Johnson and George Boxall to discuss a remarkable story in France as RC Lens finish the calendar year on top of Ligue 1. It's the first time PSG have failed to be top at Christmas in five years - and back in 2020/21, Lille finished as French champions. The guys look at Lens' 2-0 win over Nice, PSG's slightly nervous 3-2 triumph at bottom side Metz, and Marseille's dramatic - if a little fortuitous - victory over Monaco. George and JJ pick their tops and flops from the first part of the season - and everyone on the pod is allowed to make one Christmas wish.

Matt Spiro is joined by Tom Williams and Jeremy Smith to review the Round 15 action in France. PSG were in ominous form, putting five past Rennes thanks notably to a brilliant Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but Lens are still the pacesetters after they won for the fifth week running, away to Nantes. But many of the chasers are falling away: Marseille, Strasbourg, Monaco and Lyon all suffered damaging defeats. Nobody is in a worse situation than OGC Nice, however. There's a in-depth look at the growing crisis on the Côte d'Azur including a chat with long-time Nice supporter Marc who claims that the accusations of fan violence made by Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga are wide of the mark.

Host Matt Spiro and guest Baptiste Reynaud heap the praise on RC Lens who sit atop the Ligue 1 standings for the first time in more than two decades after their win at Angers. How has Pierre Sage built such a strong unit so quickly? The lads do their best to explain all. Cameroon international Sébastien Bassong pops in to discuss PSG's dramatic Champions League win over his former team Tottenham, and also assesses the survival chances of his first club FC Metz. Meanwhile, Matt has been a busy boy - he catches up with Luke Entwistle down on the Côte d'Azur to reflect on Monaco's huge win over PSG in the principality - and we ask what everybody else is thinking after another setback at the Vélodrome: do Marseille have the stomach for a title push?

This week we have an exclusive interview with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who talks to Matt Spiro about Marseille's title push. Our host also catches up with podcast regulars George Boxall and Luke Entwistle at the Allianz Riviera to analyse Nice 1-5 Marseille. Podcast guest Andy Scott was in Rennes to witness Paul Pogba's debut - his first appearance in 881 days - and the remarkable ovation afforded to him by the Roazhon Park crowd. Tom Williams is also on board this week: Tom has plenty of positive things to say about Angers goalkeeper Hervé Koffi and RC Lens. But isn't so impressed by the French comedian Paul Mirabel.The podcast is produced by Stephen Willis.

In this episode, Matt Spiro speaks to the legendary former Marseille striker Tony Cascarino. The man still affectionately known in the south of France as 'Tony Goal' tells us all about those crazy years down at the Vélodrome: meeting Bernard Tapie and signing for the recently-crowned European champions (instead of Blackpool!), nearly coming to blows with the notorious club president at half-time in a game, being confronted by ultras on the team bus, scoring 61 goals in 84 games - and, most bafflyingly of all, watching one of his team-mates relieve himself on the pitch in the middle of the game! Tony also recalls his time at Nancy with plenty of fondness - plus he chats to Matt about Roberto De Zerbi's current crop and their chance of beating Newcastle in the Champions League next Tuesday night.

Matt Spiro is joined by Marseille-based journalist George Boxall and his Paris-based nemesis Jonathan Johnson to run the rule over another eventful weekend. Were Lyon hard done by against PSG? Are Marseille and Lens genuine title contenders after their latest impressive victories? It's close at the top of Ligue 1 - and it's close at the top of Ligue 2 too, as George's beloved Red Star push for promotion. He tells us in less than 60 seconds why Red Star should be everybody's second favourite club, while Jonathan sings the praises of another cult club RC Lens.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by regular guest and Ligue 1 expert Andy Scott - and there's a debut this week for the distinguished French commentator Julien Brun. One of French television's most recognisable voices after working for TF1, DAZN, Amazon Prime and beIN Sports, Julien gets embarrassed when Matt calls him 'the French Martin Tyler'. But he duly shows his class by providing shrewd analysis of Monaco 0-1 Paris FC, Rennes 4-1 Strasbourg and PSG 1-0 Nice. Julien does however lose badly to Andy in the PSG/Bayern Munich trivia section.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by author and broadcaster Tom Williams, plus there's an Across the Channel debut this week for the French journalist and African football expert Karim Baldé. The panel run the rule over PSG's masterclass in Brest and admire the work of Pierre Sage's Lens team who are second after beating Marseille. There's a focus on Rennes and their under-fire coach Habib Beye, analysis of Lyon's dramatic win over Strasbourg, as well as the usual tops and flops and French football trivia.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by Marseille-based journalist George Boxall and French football expert Jonathan Johnson after a record-equalling weekend in Ligue 1 that saw an incredible 40 goals scored across the nine games. The team reflect on PSG 3-3 Strasbourg - an early contender for 'game of the season' - Mason Greenwood's Marseille masterclass against Le Havre, Nice's crucial victory over Lyon, and Nantes' incredible performance in the stands (more so than on the pitch). There's also some focus on events across the Channel where French players have been tearing it up in the Premier League!

Host Matt Spiro is joined by commentator Andy Scott to reflect on France’s latest international games and write a half-term report for our Ligue 1 clubs. Should Didier Deschamps be worried about dropping points in Iceland? Can Les Bleus win without Kylian Mbappé? Is Upamecano-Saliba a winning ticket at the back? We look to answer those questions - and we get strict with our Ligue 1 pupils! If Rennes and Monaco fall into the ‘could do better’ category, there’s high praise for Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille and Lens – and a call for Warren Zaire-Emery to roll up his sleeves, listen to the teacher... or risk a spell in detention.

Ethan Mbappé took centre stage on Sunday night, scoring a late leveller for Lille against former club PSG. The 18-year-old impressed his big brother, who was in the stands, and Across the Channel host Matt Spiro! This week, Matt is joined by George Boxall and Luke Entwistle and examine the Round 7 action in France as stylish Strasbourg put five past Angers, Marseille swat Metz aside and Monaco are held by Nice in the derby. Has Adi Hutter (#ASMonaco) lost the dressing room, just how good is Valentine Barco (#RCSA) and will poor old #FCMetz manage to get a single win this season… The panel answer those questions and much more!

Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais lead the standings after winning at the weekend, but Olympique de Marseille should also be considered title contenders after a wonderful week in which they won Le Classique and then triumphed in Strasbourg. Matt Spiro is joined by French football experts Andy Scott and Tom Williams to look back at another fantastic weekend of drama in Ligue 1, during which the referees came in for more stick and Lorient wonderkid Pablo Pagis sunk Monaco with a brilliant double.

Never before have we witnessed wild celebrations both in Marseille and in Paris on the night of a 'Classique', but that was the case on Monday as the Mediterranean giants clinched their first home victory over the capital club in 14 years, before PSG superstar Ousmane Dembélé was crowned as Ballon d'Or winner. Matt Spiro is joined by Paris-based expert Jonathan Johnson and Marseille-based reporter George Boxall to look back at a wonderful night for French football both on and off the pitch - and run the rule over the big Ligue 1 talking points from the weekend.

The Champions League is back and France's three participants all geared up for their campaigns by securing victories at the weekend. Host Matt Spiro asks guests Tom Williams and Andy Scott if Marseille, Monaco and PSG are ready for the challenges that lie ahead. There's also a fascinating chat about Strasbourg, Chelsea, Emanuel Emegha and multi-club ownership, we look at Ethan Mbappé's progress at Lille, plus Ligue 1's referees come under scrutiny after another flurry of red cards in Round 4.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by 'Across the Channel' regular Jonathan Johnson and a special guest this week as the former Strasbourg, Nantes and AS Roma midfielder Ricardo Faty makes his debut on the pod. As well as discussing Les Bleus' two opening World Cup qualifying victories against Ukraine and Iceland, Ricardo speaks candidly about his time as a boy at Clairefontaine - what he learned at France's esteemed academy and why the place is so special - and opens up on the subject of dual nationality. The ex-midfielder, who played for France at youth level before representing Senegal, offers fascinating insight on a topic that continues to stir debate in the French media.

Host Matt Spiro is joined on the Pod by French football expert Luke Entwistle to discuss all the latest updates from Ligue 1. Luke brings his in-depth knowledge of Monaco and Nice to assess their contrasting starts to the new season. We debate whether Joao Neves's stunning goals in PSG's 6-3 win at Toulouse is the most spectacular hat-trick of all time. Lille go one better than the Champions by putting seven past Lorient. And Lyon, despite a summer of chaos, have maximum points after edging out bitter rivals Marseille.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by French football specialists Jonathan Johnson and Baptiste Reynaud to run the rule over another crazy weekend in Ligue 1. Adrien Rabiot is at the heart of some animated chat as Marseille recover from a tumultuous week to put five goals past Paris FC. There's more love for Olivier Giroud - and for Lille boss Bruno Genesio - after the vital win over Monaco, plus the guys assess PSG's start and wonder if there is a penalty-taking problem following Ousmane Dembélé's miss.

Host Matt Spiro is joined by French football writer & broadcaster Tom Williams and Ligue 1 commentator Andy Scott to discuss the major talking points in France’s top flight after a dramatic opening weekend. Find out who our experts are tipping to be the best summer signing, the biggest flop, the youngster who is about to explode, which team is ready to ‘do a Brest’ and who will finish top of the scoring charts... oh, and why Andy was left cursing Nantes boss Luis Castro at the Beaujoire on Sunday. #Ligue1 #France #football