Monaco completed the league double over leaders Paris Saint-Germain with an emphatic win on Friday night, as Maghnes Akliouche once again stole the show at the Parc des Princes. PSG will remain top of the league for at least another week, but their increasingly sloppy build-up play and defensive frailties are causes for concern ahead of their Champions League tie against Chelsea.
As his team met the Parisians for the third time in as many weeks, Sébastien Pocognoli was hoping his team could avenge what ended up being a frustratingly slender defeat in the Champions League play-offs.
It was the Principality side who found themselves on the front foot in the early stages, with the hosts perhaps having one eye on their midweek tie against Chelsea. Opportunities to score fell to Zakaria from a close-range header and Akliouche with an effort from the edge of the box, while Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi had the clearest sights of the Monaco goal for Luis Enrique’s men.
While PSG’s share of possession grew as the half went on, they remained unconvincing in defence. The opening goal would come from an ill-advised run from Warren Zaïre-Emery across his own box. Monaco’s high-pressing forwards were able to pick his pocket before Maghnes Akliouche converted from close range with an emphatic finish.
The league leaders’ inefficiency would spill over into the second half, with Monaco instead doubling their lead with their first clear chance after the break. Jordan Teze’s ball across the box was deflected by Vitinha and found its way to Aleksandr Golovin, whose finish into the bottom corner was enough to beat his compatriot one-on-one.
The hosts would pull one back through Bradley Barcola, who finally beat Philipp Köhn with a deflected effort, but the Principality side would restore their two-goal lead straight away. Akliouche was once again involved, stealing the ball from Kang-in Lee before Balogun unleashed a fierce shot which was deflected by Nuno Mendes on its way to beating Safonov.
Luis Enrique’s men will hold off Lens for at least another matchday, but a repeat of Friday night’s lacklustre showing will make for a tough watch when Chelsea come to town on Wednesday. Pocognoli, who will have tactically outsmarted the Asturian on four separate occasions this season, continues to oversee an impressive resurgence for the Principality side.
Matvey Safonov, 5
Achraf Hakimi, 5
Willian Pacho, 5
Ilya Zabarnyi, 4
Nuno Mendes, 4
Warren Zaïre-Emery, 4 – The French international had been one of the league leaders’ most consistent performers since the turn of the year, but was at fault for Monaco’s opener after an ill-advised foray across the box. He could do little to overturn Monaco’s momentum in midfield.
Vitinha, 4
Dro Fernández, 4
Désiré Doué, 3
Bradley Barcola, 4 – PSG’s top scoer this season eventually found a way through with a deflected shot in the second half, but otherwise had another frustrating outing in terms of his final-third end product.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 6
Thilo Kehrer, 7
Jordan Teze, 6
Lamine Camara, 7
Maghnes Akliouche, 8 – As in the Champions League tie, the French international was incisive for the visitors. His first foray forward would end in a shot which blazed over the bar, but he made his second chance count with a close-range finish after Zaïre-Emery had lost the ball in his own box.
Folarin Balogun, 7
