Less clinical than PSG, AS Monaco fall at the Parc

How cruel! In a generally balanced match, PSG was able to make its experience speak for itself by being more clinical than AS Monaco. Despite offering great resistance, the Rouge et Blanc ended up giving in and lost by the score of 5-2 at the Parc des Princes.

The context 📅

Back from a busy international break, the Principality club had to immediately face a high category obstacle by going to the Parc des Princes to face PSG. After a draw two weeks ago in Le Havre, Adi Hütter’s side wanted to get back to winning ways against the league leaders. It was a match that did not frighten the Monegasque coach, as he said in the pre-match press conference.

The eleven 👥

At the kick-off of this clash, the Austrian manager lined up in his traditional 3-4-2-1. Returning from injury, Vanderson returns to his position as right wingback, while Mohamed Camara played in the midfield alongside Denis Zakaria, owing to the suspension of Youssouf Fofana. Aleksandr Golovin and Takumi Minamino played in support of Folarin Balogun, alone in attack.

The scenario 🎞

In front of a full Monegasque away end for the fourth time in a row, the match came alive in its first moments. Philipp Köhn was vigilant on a long shot from Gonçalo Ramos (6′) then blocked a shot from Takumi Minamino which ended up in the side netting (7′). The Rouge et Blanc goalkeeper then had a firm hand to stop Kylian Mbappé’s shot (8′), before Gianluigi Donnarumma distinguished himself on a header from Soungoutou Magassa at a corner (11′).

Oui Philipp ❤️🤍

33' | 1⃣-1⃣ #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/oZ7f3iJ8lR

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 24, 2023

Minamino answers Ramos

Well into their match, the players of the Principality club believed they opened the scoring through Vanderson but the goal was refused for a slight off from Folarin Balogun at the start of the action (15′). Unfortunately, they then conceded the first goal three minutes later through Ramos from close range (18′).

But there was no time to procrastinate as the Japanese midfielder was on the lookout to take advantage of a bad recovery from the Italian goalkeeper to shoot past him (22′) and equalize for his fourth goal of the season in Ligue 1.

𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘 ⚔️

29' | 1⃣-1⃣ #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/sCSwaD3Iji

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 24, 2023

A match of rare intensity

The match did not decrease in intensity and the two teams continued to go blow for blow. And Köhn won his duel in front of the Academy-trained attacker by getting down well to his right (34′). However, he could do nothing about the penalty by the native of Bondy which went under the bar (38′). The last opportunity was Monegasque through their number 18 before the break, but Donnarumma repelled the shot with his fingertips (45′).

𝗠𝗶-𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀 ⏸️

Au terme d'une première période animée, le PSG est devant d'une courte tête.

Rendez-vous dans 15 minutes ✊

2⃣-1⃣ #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/xqcAyicJSo

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 24, 2023

Two frustrating minutes

The second period begins as the first ended with a Minamino – Donnarumma duel, won again by the Parisian goalkeeper (47′). Adi Hütter’s men had  possession of the ball but were caught out on a long ball from which Ousmane Dembélé beat Köhn at the near post (70′). It was a scenario which was all the more cruel as they conceded a fourth goal straight thereafter from Vitinha, author of a strike into the top corner (72′).

The response comes from Balogun

The Rouge et Blanc, however, did not give up and on a recovery from the Japanese midfielder, the latter  found Folarin Balogun deep, springing the offside trap. One-on-one against the Parisian goalkeeper, the American did not hesitate and reduced the lead, scoring his fourth of the season (75′). Not resigned to the result, Adi Hütter then made a triple attacking change including the entry of Wissam Ben Yedder in place of Mohamed Camara.

But pour l'AS Monaco !!!@balogun réduit l'écart sur une passe de Taki 👊

76' | 4⃣-2⃣ #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/6X55knx2zu

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 24, 2023

Bounce back against Montpellier next Sunday

The Monegasque captain distinguished himself just before entering added time with a shot at the near post, denied by Donnarumma (89′). Denis Zakaria’s header, from a corner by Aleksandr Golovin, then went just wide (90′). The last word was PSG’s as they scored a fifth time through Randal Kolo Muani, with a shot across goal from the left.

AS Monaco ultimately lost 5-2 in frustrating fashion. After two away trips in a row, the Rouge et Blanc will return to the Stade Louis-II next Sunday (3 p.m.), with a visit from Montpellier, for the 14th round of Ligue 1. Daghe Monaco!

Key moments 🎥

7′: A deflected strike from Minamino hits the side netting
8′: Firm hand from Köhn stops Mbappé’s strike
11′: Unmarked from six meters, Magassa’s header is pushed back by Donnarumma
15′: Vanderson’s goal refused for a slight offside by Balogun
18′: Ramos opens the scoring from close range (1-0)
22′: Minamino equalizes by shooting past Donnarumma (1-1)
34′: Mbappé comes up against Köhn who dives well to his right
38′: Penalty converted by Mbappé just under the bar (2-1)
45′: Fingertip save from Donnarumma to deny Minamino
47′: Minamino sees his shot stopped by the Parisian goalkeeper
70′: In a quick action, Dembélé beats Köhn at the near post (3-1)
72′: Vitinha curls the ball into the top corner with the help of the post (4-1)
75′: Balogun wins his duel against Donnarumma (4-2)
89′: Ben Yedder’s right-footed shot at the near post is pushed back
90′: Zakaria sees his header flirt with the left post
96′: Kolo Muani shoots across goal and scores in added time (5-2)

📋 Match details:

Friday November 24 – Parc des Princes

Ligue 1 – Matchday 13: PSG 5-2 AS Monaco

Halftime: 2-1

Goals: Ramos (18′), Mbappé (39′), Dembélé (70′), Vitinha (72′), Kolo Muani (96′) for PSG; Minamino (22′), Balogun (77′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Singo (59′) for AS Monaco

PSG: Donnarumma – Hakimi, Skriniar, Hernandez, Mukiele – Ugarte, Fabian Ruiz (Soler, 82e) – Dembélé (Barcola, 71e), Ramos (Kolo Muani, 71e), Mbappé ©, Vitinha

Substitutes: Tenas, Kurzawa, Danilo, Kang-In Lee, Ndour, Soler, Asensio, Barcola, Kolo Muani

Manager: Luis Enrique

AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Maripán ©, Magassa – Vanderson (Diatta, 79′), Zakaria, Camara (Ben Yedder, 79′), Jakobs – Minamino (Akliouche, 79′), Golovin – Balogun

Substitutes: Majecki, Matsima, Ouattara, Akliouche, Diatta, Diop, Matazo, Ben Yedder, Efekele

Manager: Adi Hütter