After twelve days in the league there are only three points separating the two teams, with the Parisians having risen to the top thanks to a string of five wins in a row, the last one achieved against surprising Reims (0-3). It cannot be said that the start of Luis Enrique’s team has been positive, but after a series of fluctuating results, the Capitolini seem to have regained the continuity of performance that was lacking at the beginning. At least at home, since in the Champions League, after the narrow defeat suffered in the return match with AC Milan at the San Siro, qualification for the round of 16 is still to be conquered. In fact, the big match with Monaco comes just a few days after a crucial challenge with Newcastle, which must be won at all costs to avoid finding themselves with the water at their throats on the last day in a very balanced group. No distractions, though. Farioli’s Nice have only one point less and the Monegasques are -3. Three points are needed to keep the lead.
First mini-escape of PSG?
Monaco has slowed down in its last three games-the Principality’s club beat Brest at home but picked up a point on the road between Lille and Le Havre-but it remains a team that was able to score 24 points in its first 12 games. Not a bad haul.
(Zakaria (Instagram)
A performance that in is fully in line with the season’s goal of returning to the Europe that matters after a disappointing season. Adi Hutter’s team to get out of the Parc des Princes unscathed will have to be perfect in non-possession of the ball, trying to contain an attack that in the last five league matches has never scored less than three goals per game (against Reims Mbappé went wild with a hat trick). In contrast, Monaco’s offensive numbers have dropped, with only two goals scored between Lille, Brest and Le Havre.
the prediction
MMonaco seems to have lost the polish of the first two months and is unlikely to be able to resist a Psg side that-at least in the league-has engaged fourth gear and is scoring in spurts. Not to mention that at home the Parisians have the second best performance (behind Monaco itself) with four wins, one draw and one defeat, 15 goals scored and barely four conceded. In any case, the unknown of the post-season match remains, especially for a team like Psg that has “loaned” almost its entire squad to the national teams (Zaire-Emery and Marquinhos are back injured): the guests should also find their way to goal.
The probable lineups of PSG-Monaco
PSG (4-4-2): Donnarumma; Hakimi, Mukiele, Skirniar, L. Hernandez; Dembelé, Vitinha, Ugarte, Kang-In Lee; Gonçalo Ramos, Mbappé.
MONACO (3-4-3): Köhn; Singo, Maripan, Magassa; Diatta, Zakaria, Camara, Jakobs; Minamino, Ben Yedder, Golovin.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
