AS Monaco will be eager for their first home win of 2024 when they host PSG, eager to cement their place in the top four race.
Since the restart of Ligue 1 action in 2024, AS Monaco, who face PSG on Friday, have found it increasingly difficult to conjure up a win on home soil, while their overall results could have been much better. Wins away from home over OGC Nice and RC Lens have been the only ones in the league this calendar year.
Hence, for Adi Hutter, breaking the home duck for 2024 remains a priority heading into this all-important clash with PSG on Friday night. But it will still seem like a big ask. AS Monaco have plenty to play for and having led the league table earlier this season, it is understandable that their fans expect at least a top four finish.
For those coveted Champions League places, so many teams are involved, as one could consider ninth-placed Marseille in the mix. However, AS Monaco are in a good position, although Hutter would want some searing consistency from his men to cement their place in the top four between now and the end.
Meanwhile, in Paris, it is another season where PSG will instead focus their efforts on the Champions League campaign rather than put in too much in Ligue 1 matters. Despite a topsy-turvy start to their domestic campaign, Luis Enrique’s men are in the driving seat and could wrap up this year’s title earlier than one may have expected.
PSG are eleven points clear of second-placed Brest, while some thirteen are ahead of their next opponent, AS Monaco. Coming at the back of a convincing 2-0 win over Real Sociedad, the Parisians made light work of Nantes but struggled to break down Rennes last weekend.
PSG had to rely on a Goncalo Ramos equaliser deep in injury time to make a point against Rennes and stay unbeaten in 2024. Enrique expects another comfortable win from his players when they travel to Monaco on Friday night, as PSG are eager to extend their lead further and not worry about results from elsewhere for the remainder of the weekend.
Team News & Tactics
AS Monaco
Adi Hutter must make do without several key players ahead of the home clash with PSG. To start with the updates, Krepin Diatta and Vanderson are unavailable for the Friday night game due to muscle problems, while Ismail Jakobs will miss out on a hamstring issue.
Mohamed Kamara also has a sprained knee that will see him miss out, while Denis Zakaria has a suspension after accumulating too many yellow cards.
Edan Diop and Takumi Minamino will provide support in midfield for Youssouf Fofana, who will likely sit at the base. Aleksandr Golovin will resume his role as the chief attacking operator between the central midfield and the front two. Wissam Ben Yedder and Folarin Balogun will assume their partnership in the latter roles.
Mohammed Salisu and Guillermo Maripan will keep their central defensive roles at the back. Hutter will deploy Wilfried Singo as his preferred choice at right-back, while Kassoum Ouattara will keep his place at left back.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Kohn; Singo, Salisu, Maripan, Ouattara; Minamino, Fofana, Diop; Golovin; Ben Yedder, Balogun
PSG
Luis Enrique also has injury-related problems, but nothing will prevent him from naming a strong enough team capable of collecting the three points. Defender Presnel Kimpembe continues to deal with persistent injury issues, as an Achilles tendon problem will keep him out of action.
Deputy keeper Sergio Rico remains unavailable due to a head injury, while Marquinhos is in considerable doubt about a calf issue. Full-back Layvin Kurzawa continues to deal with a sore back and appears unlikely to cut into Enrique’s squad. One might have assumed Ramos’s heroics at the end of the Rennes game might have given him a chance to start against Monaco, although that may not be true.
In recent weeks, Enrique has made some more changes, particularly with his frontline, which has seen Randal Kolo Muani reinstated to a front-three place as opposed to a wing-back role he had taken up for quite a while. The Frenchman will join his compatriots Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe in the front three, with Ramos likely to remain on the bench.
At the back, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi are well-positioned to keep their full-back roles, with Danilo Pereira and Lucas Beraldo being best placed to start in central defence. In midfield, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Lee Kang-in will likely get the nod in support of the front three.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Pereira, Beraldo, Mendes; Vitinha, Ruiz, Kang-in; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe
Key Stats
- AS Monaco have seen over 2.5 goals in 10 of their last 11 home matches against Paris Saint-Germain in all competitions.
- AS Monaco have not won a game on home soil in 2024.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in six of Monaco’s last seven games in Ligue 1.
- Paris Saint-Germain are undefeated in their last 18 matches in Ligue 1.
- PSG have not won against AS Monaco away from home in their last 3 visits here.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
With the decision made by the superstar attacker to leave PSG, fans will be hoping his final season here will be a good one in terms of winning trophies. With the Ligue 1 title almost under wraps, the fanbase hopes to see a solid Mbappe in their quest for the Champions League.
However, Luis Enrique subbed off Mbappe last weekend despite PSG looking for a goal, which some assumed was a signal of sorts. The Frenchman needs to prove his worth on the pitch by scoring goals, and what better place to do that than at his former club AS Monaco?
Prediction
AS Monaco 1-2 PSG
AS Monaco have mainly been inconsistent, making them a threat for PSG, considering the home side have surprised a few regarding when they rise or fall. However, PSG will come into this one with complete confidence despite some suggestions that they might take it easy on the league front.
PSG will want an unassailable lead at the top of the Ligue 1 standings, and they will feel confident coming here about taking all three points. As a result, AS Monaco might have to wait a bit longer to collect their first home win of the calendar year.
