Paris Saint-Germain's slow start to the French season continued on Friday as the reigning European champions went in front only to lose 2-1 at home to Monaco, who are top of Ligue 1.

Folarin Balogun's 40 million pound ($54 million) move to Everton from Monaco collapsed hours before the transfer window closed because the United States striker pulled out over his "treatment" by the Premier League side.

Monaco stormed to the top of Ligue 1 with a 2-0 win over Marseille on Sunday as former Chelsea boss Lionel Rosenior led his new charges Paris FC to a 3-0 home thumping of Nice.

Former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba will be released by Monaco after a series of injuries, the French club said on Wednesday.

Monaco earned their seventh successive win in Ligue 1 on Sunday by beating Marseille 2-1 to surge to within one point of the automatic Champions League places.

US national team star Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as Monaco won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain on Friday.

PSG have not managed to rediscover the exhilarating form that led them to Champions League glory for the first time in their history last season, but they come into March still on course to retain their French and European titles.

Vinicius scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory on the night to secure a 3-1 aggregate success for Real in the play-off tie in Madrid.

French league leader Lens was stunned by three second-half goals as Monaco came from behind to win 3-2 to give Paris Saint-Germain the chance to go top on Saturday.

Vinicius Junior scored and then alleged he had been racially abused during Real Madrid's 1-0 win away to Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday, while Paris Saint-Germain came from two goals down to beat Monaco 3-2.

Real Madrid faces an immediate rematch with Benfica after the teams were drawn together in the Champions League playoffs on Friday.

Kylian Mbappe struck twice against his former side Monaco as Real Madrid romped to an emphatic 6-1 Champions League victory on Tuesday to ease tensions around the club.

It already seems clear Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa believes success with the record 15-time European champions will only come with the careful management of egos at the club.

Mason Greenwood scored as Marseille strolled to a 6-0 win over third-tier Bourg-Peronnas in the French Cup last 64 on Sunday, while Monaco edged an all-Ligue 1 tie with Auxerre.

Paris Saint-Germain suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at the hands of Monaco on Saturday but retained top spot in Ligue 1 after nearest rivals Marseille were held to a 2-2 draw by Toulouse.

Paul Pogba signed for French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco in the summer after serving a doping ban.

Even though he is about to turn 39, Olivier Giroud promised "this is only the beginning" after striking in added time on Sunday to give Lille a 1-0 Ligue 1 win over visiting Monaco.

Paul Pogba watched as Monaco easily beat Le Havre 3-1 in their Ligue 1 opener on Saturday as Lyon won away at Lens.