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Soccer on TV: Paris Saint-Germain, French league, MLS in midweek spotlight

France’s Ligue 1 is the only major European league playing midweek games this week, while MLS has a few games Wednesday night. Here’s your viewer’s guide to the top action to watch.

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar (10) accused a Marseille player of racially abusing him during a game that included five red cards, and a brawl in the final minutes.
Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar (10) accused a Marseille player of racially abusing him during a game that included five red cards, and a brawl in the final minutes.Read moreMichel Euler / AP

France’s Ligue 1 is the only major European league playing midweek games this week, while MLS has a few games Wednesday night.

Here’s your viewer’s guide to the top action to watch.

Montpellier vs. Lyon

Tuesday, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports, beIN Sports Español)

While Lyon’s Memphis Depay waits for a move to Barcelona, he’s playing for his current club and playing well. Montpellier, featuring former Montreal Impact outside back Ambroise Oyongo, impressed in a 3-1 win over Nice on Saturday.

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Metz

Wednesday, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports, beIN Sports Español)

On Sunday, PSG lost to archrival Marseille 1-0 in a game that featured five red cards. The last of them came after a late-game brawl in which Neymar punched Marseille’s Alvaro Gonzalez -- then alleged that Gonzalez racially abused him. TV cameras showed Neymar informing the fourth official of what happened as the Brazilian left the field.

The story is a long way from over, and PSG has unreservedly stood in Neymar’s corner. But the three-time reigning French champions have work to do beyond defending their star: they’ve lost their first two games of the season. It’s been nearly 70 years since a Ligue 1 team started 0-2 and went on to win the title.

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers

Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. (FS1, Fox Deportes)

The Earthquakes continue to be one of MLS' most unpredictable teams. After losing 7-1 at Seattle last Thursday, they came home on Wednesday and held the Los Angeles Galaxy to a scoreless tie. Portland, meanwhile, is coming off a 4-2 loss at Los Angeles FC that featured some brilliant attacking play, but not enough of it.

Click here for Wednesday’s full MLS schedule.

Olympique Marseille vs. Saint-Étienne

Thursday, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports)

Marseille’s win in Paris was its first for over a decade, and its first of any kind since November of 2011. That was noticed plenty by the team that used to be French soccer’s biggest, and a city where there were celebrations in the streets when PSG lost the Champions League final to Bayern Munich.

Saint-Étienne tops the Ligue 1 table through two rounds of games as the only team to start the season with back-to-back wins. Keep an eye on 18-year-old attacking midfielder Adil Aouchiche, who grew up in Paris Saint-Germain’s academy and left when he wasn’t going to be able to get playing time.