Paris Saint-Germain's challenging start to the Ligue 1 season continued on Friday evening as they faced a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home against AS Monaco. This match marked the first time PSG played in front of their home crowd at Parc des Princes this season, but they were unable to secure a victory, leaving them without a win in their opening three matches.
PSG took an early lead in the match when captain Marquinhos scored in the 31st minute, converting a cross from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with his chest. The home side appeared to be on track for a much-needed win against a Monaco team that had encountered its own difficulties in recent weeks. However, the tide turned in the second half as Monaco responded strongly.
Flavio Nazinho leveled the score for Monaco in the 58th minute, heading in a delivery from Jordan Teze. The visitors then took the lead in the 72nd minute when Belgian winger Stanis Idumbo found the back of the net, beating PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov at his near post. This victory propelled Monaco to the top of the Ligue 1 standings, with three wins from three matches, while PSG finds themselves languishing in the lower half of the table with just two points.
Before the match, PSG announced that head coach Luis Enrique had signed a contract extension to remain with the club until 2030. Despite this boost, the team’s performance has been underwhelming, particularly in domestic competition. Following their UEFA Super Cup victory over Aston Villa, PSG has struggled, losing to Lens in the French Champions Trophy and drawing their first two Ligue 1 matches against Rennes and Lille. In those games, they managed to come back from two goals down, with Marquinhos scoring a late equalizer against Lille just a week prior.
Luis Enrique expressed his frustration after the match, stating, "We clearly deserved to win. That is my opinion. 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." His comments reflect the sentiment among PSG supporters who expected a stronger showing from their team, especially given their status as reigning champions.
Monaco, under the guidance of new coach Filipe Luis, had a tumultuous week leading up to the match. The club was reportedly involved in transfer negotiations for several players, including a failed deal to sell Folarin Balogun to Everton for £40 million. Balogun, who has not featured for Monaco this season, was absent from the match against PSG, while Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara, who had been the subject of transfer speculation, did play.
As PSG prepares to shift their focus to the UEFA Champions League, where they will face Slovan Bratislava next week, they must address their domestic struggles. With only two points from three matches, the pressure is mounting on Luis Enrique and his squad to turn their fortunes around in Ligue 1.
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