Monaco 1-0 PSG: Paris fall to 10-men Monaco

Takumi Minamino scored the only goal of the game as PSG lost to Monaco in what was a poor performance from the Parisian that could see them fall as far as third by the end of the weekend.

PSG fall at the hands of Paul Pogba's Monaco

Monaco: Hradecky, Vanderson (Diatta, 64 min), Teze, Salisu, Henrique, Kehrer, Camara, Golovin, Minamino (Pogba, 85 min), Akliouche, Balogun (Biereth, 85 min).

PSG: Chevalier, Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Hernández, Neves, Ruiz (Ramos, 84 min), Vitinha, Lee (Dembélé, 64 min), Mayulu (Ndjantou, 64 min), Kvaratskhelia (Mbaye, 76 min).

Monaco dominated the early stages, with an injury to Lucas Chevalier halting proceedings for a period in the first fifteen minutes. The Monégasques were on top, creating chances, with PSG’s only real sight of goal being a low drive from Vitinha, who was perhaps buoyed after his midweek hat trick in the Champions League against Tottenham, that was saved (but spilled) by Lukas Hradecky. A few moments later, Monaco also come very close to opening the scoring, as Takumi Minamino’s 29th minute strike was well parried by Lucas Chevalier.

Five minutes before the interval, Monaco did have the ball in the back of the net, although the linesman’s rising flag saw the goal ruled out. During the half time break, Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembélé, former France international teammates (both of whom started on the bench today for their respective clubs), shared a warm and touching embrace. Pogba’s recent comeback to football has made news worldwide, as he returns from a two year drug ban – and he entered the fray late on for his first home appearance of the season for Monaco .

The first sixty minutes were typified by a real lack of pace from PSG’s attackers out wide, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kang-In Lee both failed to offer any real penetration on the flanks. Enrique didn’t resist temptation long as he turned towards Ousmane Dembélé and Quentin Ndjantou from the bench to enter the fray just after the sixty minute mark.

Senny Mayulu also failed once again to make any real impact upfront, and Gonçalo Ramos will perhaps be frustrated that he didn’t enter the fray sooner, as Ndjantou was brought on up front instead of him (having started in that position vs Tottenham in midweek). Bradley Barcola will also have been frustrated that Luis Enrique opted to send on Ibrahim Mbaye on instead of him.

Tired legs cost Paris in the end, as on 68 minutes Aleksandr Golovin ran beyond PSG’s highline and chipped a delicate ball to his Japanese teammate Minamino, who slotted into the corner of Lucas Chevalier’s goal. Despite doubts about Balogun’s offside position and whether he interfered with Chevalier’s vision, the goal stood.

Hernandez had a chance to level PSG after Ndjantou nodded the ball into his path, only minutes after Monaco’s opener, but snatched at the ball and cut it high and wide of the goal. Fabien Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also both went close to levelling things up, before a potential turning point in the game came as Thilo Kehrer (formally of PSG) received a straight red card after a VAR check for a foul on the last man.

One silver lining for the away team was another improved performance from Chevalier, who demonstrated more authority, more confidence claiming crosses and made a couple of fine saves to keep his side in the game amid Monaco pressure.

It was PSG’s attack that proved inept for much of the game, as their starting front three looked slow and short on imagination against Monaco’s steadfast defence. Dembélé’s introduction did lead to some improvement, as the inspired Frenchman created a brilliant chance late on for Ndjantou, but the youngster slipped as he took the shot and cut the ball well wide.

The result leaves PSG two points ahead of Marseille and Lens, both of whom have a game in hand on the defending Champions. Marseille host Toulouse later tonight, and Lens travel to Angers tomorrow evening, in two games that PSG fans will keep a close eye on.