Paris-Saint Germain are stunned by Monaco in Ligue 1 clash in Paris. Photo: AFP
PARIS:
Paris Saint-Germain’s slow start to the French season continued on Friday as the reigning European champions went in front only to lose 2-1 at home to Monaco, who are top of Ligue 1.
Captain Marquinhos gave PSG the lead just past the half-hour mark at the Parc des Princes, where Luis Enrique’s team were playing in front of their own fans for the first time in this campaign.
But Monaco hit back in the second half as Flavio Nazinho equalised before Belgian winger Stanis Idumbo fired in the winner for the principality side, who are top of the early standings with three wins from three.
PSG, who announced before kick-off that coach Luis Enrique had signed a three-year contract extension to stay in charge until 2030, will begin their bid to win a third consecutive Champions League title next midweek at home to Slovan Bratislava.
However, they will do so off the back of a stuttering start domestically, with just two points on the board three games into their latest Ligue 1 title defence — that leaves them seven points behind Monaco already.
“We clearly deserved to win. That is my opinion,” said Luis Enrique.
“I saw the game and it was the typical game in which we were better than the opposition and created a lot more chances, but the opposition goalkeeper was the best player on the pitch.”
The Qatar-owned club beat Aston Villa last month to win the UEFA Super Cup, but then lost to Lens in the French Champions Trophy before drawing their first two Ligue 1 outings, away to Rennes and Lille respectively.
They had come from two goals down late on in both of those games, with Marquinhos grabbing a last-gasp leveller a week ago in Lille.
The Brazilian defender, PSG’s captain, opened the scoring here on 31 minutes when he converted Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s ball across the face of goal with his chest.
PSG looked on course at that point for a welcome victory against a Monaco side coming off a turbulent week.
The principality side, now coached by Brazilian ex-Atletico Madrid defender Filipe Luis, had been hoping to make a big sale to the Premier League before the transfer window closed to offset failing to reach this season’s Champions League.
Balogun missing
But they were left reeling as United States World Cup star Folarin Balogun backed out of a £40 million ($54 million) transfer to Everton on deadline day.
That was just after Monaco had pulled out of a deal to sell Lamine Camara to Chelsea.
Balogun, who was at the centre of controversy at the World Cup after US President Donald Trump successfully intervened to force FIFA to suspend a red card so he could play against Belgium in the last 16, was left out here and has not played for his club this season.
Senegal midfielder Camara did feature for the visitors, who almost fell further behind just after the restart when Maghnes Akliouche — facing his old side — hit the bar.
Instead, Monaco drew level on 58 minutes when Portuguese left-back Nazinho headed in at the back post from a Jordan Teze delivery.
Monaco then went ahead on 72 minutes when Aleksandr Golovin supplied Idumbo and he beat Matvey Safonov at the goalkeeper’s near post.
