An all-French showdown takes shape in the Champions League playoff round as Monaco and PSG begin their two-legged affair for a place in the round of 16.
Monaco are vying for a place in the round of 16s for the sixth time in 11 campaigns, as they have the small task of ousting rivals PSG from their perch. The Red and Whites will take confidence from the fact that they recently beat the Parisians back in November, but the reigning champions are not likely to be pushovers.
Monaco only made it to the playoffs after an uneven league phase campaign, with only two victories to show for their cause in eight games. Having suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, Sebastiein Pocognoli’s men finished in 21st place in the standings following their draw against Juventus in the final matchday.
To get into the next round, Monaco must maneuver through a wretched record in knockout games in this competition, having lost each of their last two-legged ties on the European front, including a 4-3 aggregate loss to Benfica at this stage of the competition last season.
The weekend’s action for PSG saw the reigning Ligue 1 winners and European champions lose out to Rennes in the league. The post-match comments from star man Ousmane Dembele and Luis Enrique grabbed the headlines, but the Spanish coach will want the team to focus on the task ahead in the Champions League and move forward.
PSG could not finish in the top eight, and only managed an 11th-placed finish in the standings, but this playoff stage is where they began their solid uptick in form last season. At the time, they dismantled another French side, Brest, with a 10-0 aggregate scoreline, and now Enrique will want a big enough result against Monaco to kickstart the most crucial period of their season in style.
PSG have also won 10 of their last 15 knockout matches in the Champions League, heading into this playoff clash with Monaco, including seven wins in their last 10 away outings, which does slightly make them the favourites in this two-legged affair with their domestic rivals.
Team News & Tactics
Monaco
Pocognoli will be relieved to know that Alexandr Golovin’s red card at the weekend does not extend to the Champions League, as he would need the attacker given the raft of injuries he has with this Monaco side. There are at least three players ruled out with knee injuries in the form of Lukas Hradecky, Takumi Minomino and Mohammed Salisu.
Others like Kassoum Ouattara, Eric Dier and Paul Pogba all have calf issues that will see them miss this clash with PSG. Pape Cabrals is also potentially absent with a muscle problem, while influential duo Lamine Camara and Maghnes Akliouche are in significant doubt after being forced off very recently. Defender Wout Faes is also out of contention.
Former PSG man Thilo Kehrer will feature at the back alongside Jordan Teze, with Vanderson and Caio Henrique in the full-back roles. Pocognoli will hope to have Camara fit and available, while Denis Zakaria will also feature in the midfield. Folarin Balogun is expected to lead the line, with Akliouche, if fit and Simon Adingra in the wide areas.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1) – Kohn; Vanderson, Teze, Kehrer, Hrneique; Camara, Zakaria; Akliouche, Golovin, Adingra; Balogun
PSG
Compared to Monaco, Enrique has a relatively short injury list, with winger Quentin Ndjantou and Fabian Ruiz are the only potential absentees ahead of this Champions League clash.
The former has a persistent hamstring problem to deal with, while the Spaniard will miss his sixth straight game with a knee issue. Despite making headlines, Dembele is likely to keep his place in the line-up, with the Ballon d’Or holder continuing his goalscoring form at the weekend.
The French attacker also boasts a fantastic personal record against Monaco, scoring seven times in nine games so far, which also represents his best tally against a single opponent. Warren Zaire-Emery is likely to deputise in the midfield role in Ruiz’s absence, with Vitinha and Joao Neves likely to keep their places.
Marquinhos could be preferred in place of Illia Zabarnyi at the heart of the defence alongside Willian Pacho, while Enroque will have his regular full-back pairing of Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will feature on the left wing ahead of Bradley Barcola, while Desire Doue will start on the right, and Dembele leads the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3) – Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvataskhelia
Key Stats
- Monaco have won just 2 games in their last 8 outings across all competitions.
- Monaco are unbeaten in their last 4 Champions League home games, and have not conceded a goal in that period.
- PSG have won 7 of their last 10 Champions League away games.
- PSG have won 10 of their last 15 Champions League knockout matches.
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
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The man in form for PSG, as Enrique will hope his Ballon d’Or holder delivers at the big stage and helps PSG progress into the next round of the Champions League. The comments made by Dembele following their loss against Rennes grabbed the headlines, but he could make it back to the papers with a stellar performance against Monaco.
Dembele also has a stellar personal record against Monaco, which is his favourite opponent, with seven goals in his nine appearances against the domestic rivals. He has another chance to improve that record, as Dembele will be the man to watch in this sensational, all-French Champions League playoff first leg.
Prediction
Monaco 1-2 PSG
Monaco may have secured a victory against PSG on home soil back in November, but their form since then must be accounted for. Pocognoli’s men only have two wins in their last eight games across all competitions heading into this crucial clash, which may put them as underdogs in this first leg, as well as the overall tie.
PSG may have lost out to Rennes at the weekend, but Enrique is known to galvanise his charges in quick time, and that might be evident on the pitch on Tuesday. Given the importance of making it through to the next round, the reigning Champions are expected to take an advantage back to Paris for the second leg.