Ligue 1 actions resume with the top-billing clash between leaders PSG and third-placed AS Monaco in Paris on Friday night.
Luis Enrique will demand the utmost concentration from the PSG players before a mammoth clash against AS Monaco. After starting the season slowly and playing catch-up with their opponents on Friday and OGC Nice, Paris Saint-Germain have established a one-point advantage at the summit.
PSG went through a testing week right before the international break, as they suffered an untimely defeat away to AC Milan. Enrique’s men responded in style the following weekend with a stellar display against Stade Reims, with a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick putting Will Still’s side to the sword to establish an advantage at the top.
β½οΈ ππππ ππππ
π AS Monaco
ποΈ 24/11 – 21h
ποΈ Parc des Princes@visitrwanda_now I #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/f27eAFbUrf— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) November 22, 2023
PSG can take an undisputed four-point lead before the other rival, OGC Nice, play at the weekend. Such a scenario could place pressure on the second-placed side, while a win over AS Monaco would improve their gap over their Friday opponents.
Adi Hutter will want AS Monaco to show confidence when dealing with their toughest adversaries in Ligue 1. Their manager will demand the players show character in away games against the bigger sides, who they should rightfully put up a big fight against rather than get defeated.
The last few games have not been favourable for Monaco in their quest to reign supreme in Ligue 1. They have suffered only two defeats all season, all of which came away from home, against teams equal to them in the top order.
A win over ten-man Brest followed a loss to LOSC Lille, but Monaco drew a blank against Le Havre right before the international break. Hutter’s men were extremely fortunate to come out of that clash with a point and have to thank goalkeeper Philipp Kohn for saving a late penalty from Samuel Grandsir. Hutter will hope his players are refreshed and ready to attack the top of the table and get the better of PSG on Friday night.
Team News & Tactics
PSG
As celebrations reigned in a hotel room where French players showed their excitement at the call-up received by youngster Warren Zaire-Emery, little did they know, his introduction into the national side would come at a cost as the teenager suffered a severe ankle injury that would keep him out of action at least until the new year.
πβ½οΈ #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/0Rxwx6StEx
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) November 22, 2023
Zaire-Emery joins a host of other first-team stars in the treatment room. Marco Asensio, Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe, Danilo Pereira and their two backup goalkeepers are all out of action for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, Achraf Hakimi and Randal Kolo Muani will return after their suspensions for offensive chanting, as they missed the win over Stade Reims. The enormous task for Enrique would come in the form of replacing Zaire-Emery. Carlos Soler, who put in an impressive display in the last game, could be that player.
With Kolo Muani returning, Enrique could reinstate the French star into the attack as he could reclaim his place from Goncalo Ramos. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele will complete the front three for PSG.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3):Β Donnarumma; Hakimi, Mukiele, Skriniar, Lucas Hernandez; Ruiz, Vitinha, Soler; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
AS Monaco
Like PSG, AS Monaco have their fair share of absentees ahead of the crunch clash in Paris. Key midfielder Youssouf Fofana misses out owing to a suspension. Hutter does have plenty of choices to replace the France international, but Mohamed Camara is best placed to deputise for the commanding midfielder.
Les meilleurs extraits de la confΓ©rence de presse de Coach HΓΌtter ποΈ
π #PSGASM pic.twitter.com/CKTnQfMy2e
— AS Monaco π²π¨ (@AS_Monaco) November 22, 2023
There are other key absentees in this Monaco side. Mohammed Salisu, Caio Henrique, Myron Boadu and Eliesse Ben Seghir are all out of action, with Henrique a long-term absentee with an ACL injury.
Hutter must also make late assessments of some key stars coming through this international break, with tests prepared for Folarin Balogun, Takumi Minamino, and Guillermo Maripan.
The manager also has a decision on his central striker option, having recently selected Wissam Ben Yedder. The Frenchman has only managed to score once in his last top-flight outings, while Balogun has also gone quiet after scoring four in his first three. The American could get the nod to lead the line depending on fitness.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1):Β Kohn; Singo, Magassa, Matsima; Vanderson, Camara, Zakaria, Jakobs; Akliouche, Golovin; Balogun
Key Stats
- Paris Saint-Germain have scored at least three goals in their last five matches in Ligue 1.
- Paris Saint-Germain have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last 5 matches in Ligue 1.
- Paris Saint-Germain have won their last five matches in Ligue 1.
- AS Monaco have drawn a blank in their last two away games in Ligue 1.
- AS Monaco have scored the most goals (13) at Parc des Princes since PSG’s Qatari takeover.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
π«π· Kylian MbappΓ©'s statistically calculated player characteristics:
β Strengths:
π’ Holding on to the ball
π’ Passing
π’ Key passes
π’ Finishing
π’ Long shots
π’ Dribbling
π’ Through ballsβ Weaknesses:
π΄ Offside awareness
π΄ Defensive contribution https://t.co/FaXIwp9hSr pic.twitter.com/OGCKOGwDyG— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 16, 2023
After signing off with a stellar hat-trick against Stade Reims before the international break, Mbappe repeated the trick with France in the 14-0 mauling of European minnows Gibraltar. With his three strikes in the last matchday, the French superstar surpassed Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the most hat-tricks in Ligue 1, and he would undoubtedly eye an increase in that number.
Mbappe will be all fired up to face his former side, AS Monaco and show them what they are missing. A win over the third-placed side would also give PSG a healthy lead at the top of the table, something Mbappe would hope to facilitate.
Prediction
PSG 2-0 AS Monaco
The visitors have not been at their best during recent weeks and may continue to struggle away from home, especially against top opponents. They have already drawn a blank in their last two games on the road and are primed to do it in a third consecutive game.
PSG have returned to their fluid best and will look to beat one of the top three teams on Friday night. Enrique has in-form players on his team; they are expected to see through a win against Monaco to help the team open up a four-point advantage at the top of the table.
