Monaco 3-1 PSG: Christophe Galtier’s side lose again as poor form continues ahead of Bayern Champions League clash

Monaco inflicted a fourth defeat of the calendar year on Paris Saint-Germain as Philippe Clement’s side closed the gap on the Ligue 1 leaders to seven points with a 3-1 win at Louis II Stadium.

Aleksandr Golovin and Wissam Ben Yedder struck early to give Monaco a two-goal lead after 18 minutes before Warren Zaire-Emery reduced the deficit.

Ben Yedder restored the hosts’ two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time, and PSG – who were missing the injured Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe – were not able to mount a comeback.

It took the hosts just four minutes to open the scoring, Ben Yedder feeding Golovin who finished with aplomb.

With PSG rattled defensively, El Chadaille Bitshiabu was then robbed by Krepin Diatta close to his box and provider Ben Yedder turned scorer as he made him pay with an arrowed shot to the far corner.

Christophe Galtier’s charges gave themselves hope when Zaire-Emery, who recently became PSG’s youngest ever goalscorer at the age of just 16, tapped home Juan Bernat’s cross at the far post.

But Monaco had been by far the superior team and thoroughly deserved their two-goal cushion as Ben Yedder grabbed his 14th league goal of the season after latching onto Salim Ben Seghir’s pass, holding off Bernat and firing past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma on the stroke of half-time.

With Neymar struggling to make an impact in the final third, PSG couldn’t make any in-roads in their attempts to stage a comeback. In fact, Monaco looked the more dangerous and would have made it 4-1 only for Donnarumma, who made a superb reflex save to prevent Sergio Ramos from putting the ball into his own net and also denied Breel Embolo from close range.

Indeed, PSG’s goalkeeper was the only visiting player who came out with any real credit, making his seventh save of the match to keep out Takumi Minamino’s effort with his trailing leg in stoppage-time.

The victory saw Monaco climb from fourth to second, but only temporarily as Marseille would later beat Clermont Foot 2-0 courtesy of an Alexis Sanchez brace.

Talking point – PSG’s woeful run continues

PSG may still have a comfortable lead at the top of Ligue 1 but if they aren’t able to shake this poor run of form, the deficit could be eaten up very quickly.

They have now lost four games this calendar year and a closer look at their results this season shows they have won just one league game against the current top-five.

It doesn’t bode well for Christophe Galtier’s side ahead of the visit of Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League last-16, particularly considering they will definitely be without Mbappe once again and Messi is a doubt.

Player of the match – Ben Yedder (Monaco)

An assist and two goals for Ligue 1’s joint-top goalscorer, and, on another day, could have claimed a hat-trick.

Player ratings

Monaco: Nubel 6, Aguilar 6, Disasi 7, Maripan 6, Henrique 7, Diatta 7, Fofana 7, Camara 7, Golovin 8, Ben Seghir 8, Ben Yedder 9*.. subs: Boadu, Jakobs, Volland, Matsima, Matazo N/A, Martins, Minamino 5, Didillon, Embolo 5.

PSG: Donnarumma 8, Bitshiabu 4, Pembele 5, Marquinhos 5, Bernat 5, Pereira 5, Vitinha 5, Zaire-Emery 7, Neymar 5, Ekitike 5, Soler 5.. subs: Ramos 5, Gharbi 5, Hakimi 5, Housni N/A, Jakobs N/A

Match highlights

4’ – GOAL! MONACO 1-0 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (ALEKSANDR GOLOVIN): Great work from Fofana as he lifts the ball over Bernat and fires a cross into the box. Did it strike the hand of Marquinhos? Play continues as Ben Yedder reacts quickest to feed Golovin and he makes no mistake!

18’ – GOAL! MONACO 2-0 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (WISSAM BEN YEDDER): What a mess in the PSG defence – and the visitors are made to pay the price! Bitshiabu has a chance to clear his lines but instead tries to hold it up in the corner only to be robbed of possession by Diatta, who pokes it through to Ben Yedder. He takes a couple of touches before burying a shot into the far corner.

39’ – GOAL! MONACO 2-1 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (WARREN ZAIRE-EMERY): Zaire-Emery halves the deficit and suddenly it’s game on again! Bernat makes an overlapping run down the left and is picked out by Soler. The wing-back looks up and rolls a pass to Zaire-Emery at the back post, leaving the youngster with a simple tap-in!

45’+2 – GOAL! MONACO 3-1 PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (WISSAM BEN YEDDER): Ben Yedder at the double! PSG concede for the third time! Ben Seghir creates this one, sliding a dangerous ball through the middle and Ben Yedder proves too powerful for Bernat, holding him off before finding the back of the net!

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