Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 title defense hit a snag Friday, falling 3-1 at home to AS Monaco, a result that opens the door for RC Lens to close the gap at the top of the table. The defeat comes at a particularly inopportune moment for PSG, with a crucial Champions League last-16 first leg against Chelsea looming next week.
The loss at the Parc des Princes marked PSG’s fourth league defeat of the campaign and has sparked concerns about the team’s consistency as they navigate a demanding schedule. While PSG remains at the top of the Ligue 1 standings with 57 points, the pressure is mounting as the season progresses.
“I’m Fed Up With This On/Off Switch”
PSG’s fluctuating form throughout the season has drawn criticism from observers. Former basketball player Frédéric Weis expressed his frustration, stating, “You could say that even when they aren’t playing well, PSG can still win. But I have a lot of doubts!” Weis continued, speaking on RMC, “I’m fed up with this on/off switch. They supposedly can choose their matches, supposedly they grasp when to accelerate…”.
“The Dynamic is Extremely Important and PSG’s is Very Bad”
Weis cautioned against drawing parallels to last season, when PSG overcame expectations to win the Champions League. “But what does that mean? Most Champions haven’t managed to become Champions again! They’ve struggled to get back on track since the beginning, and we’re talking about momentum?” he argued on Grandes Gueules du Sport. “The dynamic is extremely important, and PSG’s is very bad. Losing to Monaco isn’t shameful, but losing at the Parc and conceding three goals… I’m sorry, but I’m not reassured.”
Maghnes Akliouche opened the scoring for Monaco in the 27th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Warren Zaïre-Emery. Akliouche combined with Folarin Balogun, who slotted the ball in off the post. Aleksandr Golovin extended Monaco’s lead in the 55th minute, sliding the ball into the bottom corner after a cross from the right. Folarin Balogun then sealed the victory for Monaco in the 73rd minute with a deflected strike.
This isn’t the first time Monaco has troubled PSG this season. Monaco secured a 1-0 league win over PSG in September and has taken the lead in all four encounters between the two sides this season, including both legs of their Champions League playoff tie. PSG ultimately advanced 5-4 on aggregate in that Champions League matchup.
The defeat to Monaco comes with PSG preparing to host Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday. Ousmane Dembélé, who recently returned from a calf injury, came on as a substitute in the 60th minute but appeared short of sharpness.
The result leaves PSG vulnerable in the Ligue 1 title race, with Lens potentially moving within one point of the leaders if they defeat Metz on Sunday. The pressure is now firmly on PSG to rediscover their form ahead of the crucial Champions League clash with Chelsea. For a team accustomed to dominance, this recent spell of inconsistency is raising serious questions about their ability to compete on multiple fronts.
The upcoming match against Chelsea represents a significant test for PSG. The team will need to address their defensive vulnerabilities and rediscover their attacking fluency if they hope to advance to the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition. The Parc des Princes faithful will be hoping for a swift response from their team as they brace themselves for a challenging period.
Next up for Paris Saint-Germain is the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. Kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT).
