French Clubs

Paris Saint-Germain will increase security at the homes of members of its squad after Sunday's robbery at the home of Argentine winger Ángel Di María and that of the father of Brazilian defender Marquinhos.

The case of Di María, whose home was already raided in 2015 when he was playing for Manchester United, occurred while the attacker was playing against Nantes. Warned by sporting director Leonardo, the footballer left the field and the Parc des Princes.

Ángel Di María was experiencing a dream week with Paris Saint-Germain. On Wednesday, his side eliminated Barcelona to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals. On Friday, it was announced that the 33-year-old had extended his PSG contract through 2022 with the option of an additional year.

PARIS - Paris Saint-Germain looked shaky as they completed a 5-2 aggregate victory against Barcelona to reach the Champions League quarterfinals, but keeper Keylor Navas kept them afloat when their demons resurfaced.

On the stroke of halftime on Wednesday, Barça had a penalty that could have put them 2-1 up and two goals away from forcing extra time after a 4-1 defeat in the first leg at the Camp Nou. A repeat of the 2017 "remontada”, when Barça beat PSG 6-1 to overturn a 4-0 first leg defeat in the last 16, seemed more than just a pipe dream.

Despite controlling 73 percent possession and attempting 21 shots compared to just seven for PSG, Barcelona could only manage one goal at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday — which was canceled out by a controversial Kylian Mbappé penalty in a 1-1 draw — to crash out of the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage, 5-2 on aggregate. 

Thursday’s Europa League Round of 32 first leg between Lille and Ajax featured a heavy dose of CONCACAF as the USMNT’s Timothy Weah and Canada’s Jonathan David started for the French side while Mexico’s Edson Álvarez went the full 90 for the Dutch team in their dramatic 2-1 win at Stade Pierre Mauroy.

If this is the end of the Lionel Messi era at Barcelona, it’s a fitting one. It’s not what the six-time Ballon d’Or winner deserves, but at least it’s definitive. There’ll be no backwards glances, no what-ifs, just the resounding truth that a beautiful cycle has clearly reached its end: After losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich last season, Barça is on pace to match that level of embarrassment after getting rinsed 4-1 by PSG at the Camp Nou on Tuesday. 

I can’t think of a more terrifying proposition in football than lining up as a right back against Kylian Mbappé. Sergiño Dest found out just how quickly things can turn as the young American was subbed out after Barcelona conceded three straight goals in a 4-1 defeat to PSG on Tuesday.

Seven-time champion and holder Olympique Lyonnais will play Brøndby in the last 16 of the Women's Champions League, while Chelsea will face Atlético Madrid following Tuesday's draw.

Manchester City will meet Fiorentina, Barcelona entertains Fortuna Hjorring and Paris Saint-Germain has been drawn against Sparta Prague.

Last season's finalist Wolfsburg faces Norwegian side LSK Kvinner, while Bayern Munich faces Kazakhstan's BIIK Kazygurt.

The two-legged last-16 ties will be played on March 3-4 and 10-11.

As a player whose obsession with football has only increased over the course of a glittering 17-year career, Cesc Fàbregas never grows tired of learning. That’s why, after a career spent entirely in England and Spain, the World Cup winner opted to give France a try by signing for Monaco back in 2019.

After playing 11 full seasons in the Premier League and three in LaLiga, the 33-year-old admits that the differences in Ligue 1 were pronounced.