August 28, 2022
Another afternoon watching PSG in a local Caribbean bar, and after last week’s exhilarating 7-1 victory at Lille it would surely be another exhibition as PSG cantered to victory on their way to a perfect 38 game league record ? Monaco, today’s opponents had been thrashed 1-4 at home by Lens in their last outing so surely PSG would easily put them to the sword ? After all, despite finishing a distant third to PSG last season, the current Monaco side are a far cry from the team that reached the final of the Champions League in 2004, where they lost to Jose Mourinho’s Porto.
However, Monaco hadn’t read the script, and with a carefully sculptured game plan from Belgian coach Philippe Clement ( 38 caps and ex-Beerschot, Brugge, Genk and Coventry City ) they proceeded to dominate the first half. Whereas last weekend Lille had tried to defend against PSG’s attacking armoury, instead Monaco employed an aggressive midfield tackling and high press approach, denying PSG any space in midfield and to starve their illustrious forward trio of the ball. As a blueprint for all other opponents of PSG it worked, as in the first-half the hugely impressive Mail international Mohamed Fofana ( 15 caps ) and Youssouf Camara stamped out any midfield play from PSG, and were able to launch counter-attacks for their own side.
PSG’s weaknesses were illustrated by the goal they conceded in the 20th minutes. Messi had the ball in midfield and dillied and dallied as he chose the forward options. Camara’s decisive tackle won possession and whilst Messi lay on the ground looking helpless, the ball was worked forward and ex-Bayer Leverkusen German international Kevin Volland ( 15 caps ) showed enough strength to fend off Kimpembe and stroke the ball into the corner to give the visitors the lead.
Unfortuantely, Volland appear to suffer from a hamstring injury in scoring and had to be replaced. However, the pattern of the game didn’t change as Monaco proceeded to win all the tackles in midfield and caused danger to the PSG defence. Certainly, the way Monaco pressed highlighted the weakness of PSG playing a back three, and the reluctance of PSG’s midfield to track back showed the way better teams would succeed against PSG as it was often 3 vs 3.
There can’t have been many other matches in his distinguished career in which so many of Messi’s passes went to an opponent, which a series of short passes in the congested midfield then led to Monaco counter attacking. Indeed, if Monaco had forwards of a higher calibre they could easily have led by three or four goals but for final passes going astray or failing to see the right option. As it stood, they only led 1-0 at the interval.
However, that is not to say that PSG didn’t create chances of their own, and with their one chance of the first half, Messi’s fabulous 30 yard effort crashed off the post only to fall to Mbappe with an open goal, but the ex-Monaco striker put the rebound against the other post.
After Monaco’s first half tactical domination, PSG became more assertive but failed to get a grip of the game until the closing stages. Whilst the threats from Monaco became less frequent as their efforts started to take a toll, the danger from PSG was being comfortably dealt with by Kamara, Fofana and co until Neymar fell to the floor with 20 minutes to play. Indeed, the game continued for a good two minutes until play was stopped, and initially it was thought that the VAR review was on a nasty foul on a Monaco player and a possible red card to PSG.
Instead, it focused on Neymar's fall in the Monaco penalty area, and whilst there was some contact it was hardly a foul. The ex-pros in the studio would probably be trotting out the old cliché “there was contact so it is a penalty” but Neymar made sure he made contact with Maripan, who could hardly get out of the way. In real time it looked like a dive, but once VAR advised the referee to look at the pitch side monitor there was only going to be one outcome. Neymar coolly slotted away the spot kick to bring PSG to parity.
Understandably Monaco were put under pressure, and introduced Minamino ( ex-Liverpool ) and Swiss international Embolo to help stem the tide. Neymar was denied at point blank range by German keeper Nubel, who is on loan from Bayern Munich, Hakimi sent a swerving long-range effort against the outside of the post and Mbappe missed a great opportunity near the end as Monaco carelessly gave away possession with numbers committed forward, but Nuber bravely saved the thunderbolt with with his chest.
Messi’s unfortunate evening ended as he was substituted three minutes before the end, and PSG’s frustrations were demonstrated as they lost their tempers after an innocuous challenge deep into injury time and initiated a mass brawl. Despite having only 33% of the possession the Monegasques held on for a well deserved point. Paris St Germain remain top on goal difference, now level on points with Marseille and Lens.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQqEuyDxQJw
Paris St. Germain : Donnarumma – Ramos, Marquinhos ( Mukiele ), Kimpembe – Hakimi, Verratti, Sanches ( Danilo ), Mendes – Neymar, Mbeppe, Messi ( Sarabia )
AS Monaco : Nubel – Maripan, Badisashile, Disasi – Aguilar, Camara ( Jean Lucas ), Fofana, Golovin ( Minamino ), Henrique - Ben Yeddar, Volland ( Akliouche, Embolo )
