Monaco Beat PSG 2-1 to Leave French Champions Winless After Three Games
Paris Saint-Germain’s difficult opening to the Ligue 1 campaign deepened on Friday as Monaco came from behind to win 2-1 at the Parc des Princes, leaving the French champions without a league victory after three matches.
PSG have drawn with Rennes and Lille, both by 2-2 scorelines, before suffering their first league defeat of the season against Monaco. It is the club’s first winless start to a Ligue 1 season since 2012-13 and their poorest domestic opening in 14 years.
Monaco’s victory also put them alone at the top of the table. They are the only side to have won each of their first three league fixtures.
Monaco overturn Marquinhos opener
The home side looked set to make a positive response when captain Marquinhos put PSG ahead in the 31st minute. Monaco changed the course of the match after half-time, however, with Flavio Nazinho drawing the visitors level before Stanis Idumbo scored the deciding goal in the 72nd minute.
The loss came only hours after PSG confirmed new deals for head coach Luis Enrique and a number of key members of the squad, with the agreements running until 2030.
Enrique points to performance data
Enrique did not hide his disappointment with the result, but argued that PSG’s performance offered grounds for confidence. He said the team had not yet reached its best level, while maintaining that it had done enough to take the points.
“I liked much of what I saw,” Enrique said. “It is early in the season and we are not at our best, but I felt we deserved to win. Football can be a frustrating sport. There were plenty of encouraging signs and the expected-goals figures were in our favour.”
The Spaniard said football can be hard to explain at times, praised the mentality shown by his players and described the title race as one that should remain compelling. He added that PSG must keep preparing for what lies ahead.
The Monaco defeat follows last month’s French Super Cup loss to Lens, adding to the pressure on PSG ahead of their return to European competition. They begin their continental campaign next week at home to Slovan Bratislava, again at the Parc des Princes.
