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 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