Ligue 1: Monaco in Paris is a Spectacular Return

Paris Saint-Germain vs AS Monaco

First plays third in the Ligue 1 match of the weekend when AS Monaco are the visitors to the Parc de Princes to take on league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. 

Only three points separate the two teams in this top flight curtain-raiser; PSG have a chance to go four clear at the summit while Monaco will be determined to show their title intentions are serious. The momentum is with the hosts who have recently climbed to the top of the table and are on a five match winning run of Ligue 1 2023 results. 

Luis Enrique’s PSG come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win in Reims while Adi Hutter’s Monaco were held to a 0-0 draw away to Ligue 1 news boys Le Havre, and the visitors are about the meet the best player in France, who is bang in form.

Talking Points

A happy Mbappe is a real and present danger

The Paris scoring phenomenon is back and firing and he looks as content as he has for a number of seasons. Kylian Mbappe spent much of the 2022/23 campaign rowing with his big name team-mates and the summer in the centre of transfer speculation. But Real Madrid’s pursuit of the star seems to be over and, with Lionel Messi and Neymar now out of the picture, Mbappe is the main man again…and he is certainly delivering. 

When leaders Nice were held in Montpellier in the last game before the international break, PSG had the chance to go top with a win in Reims and they shrugged off their inconsistent away form in some style. Mbappe scored all three as the Parisiens saw off Reims and that made him first Ligue 1 player to score eight top flight hat-tricks this century, beating the seven collected by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.   

With 13 goals in 11 games Mbappe is in sensational form and he’ll be delighted to welcome back wing-back Achraf Hakimi, who has scored three goals and made four assists, and speedy striker Randal Kolo Muani who are both back from suspension. But 17-year-old wonderkid Warren Zaire-Emery will be missing after he sustained in an injury in his international debut, France’s 14-0 slaughter of Gibralter.

Selection problems for Monaco

While the hosts’ hand is strengthening, their visitors aren’t having it so easy at the moment and they have suffered the loss of in-form midfielder Youssouf Fofana who is suspended, with Mo Camara likely to step in. Fofana’s absence adds to the list of injured players which includes the impressive Caio Henrique who has suffered an ACL injury, and fellow defender Mohammed Salisu who is out with a groin strain. Hutter is also sweating on the fitness of forwards Folarin Balogun and Takumi Minamino; the Japanese former Liverpool star has scored three goals and made three assists, so Hutter will be keen to get him on the pitch. But he does have his top scoring pair of Aleksandr Golovin and Wissam Ben Yedder, who have five goals each, available.

Monaco have already been on top of Ligue 1 this season but they have struggled away from home and almost lost all three points on their trip to Le Havre, who had a penalty deep into injury time. But keeper Philip Kohn kept out Samuel Grandsir’s spot kick to help his team nick a vital point. They have failed to score on their last two away games and that will be a concern, as the goalless draw was Monaco’s first clean sheet this season.    

History

With 23 victories each, the head to heads have been keenly fought and Monaco have had the edge over the past three campaigns, winning three, drawing one and losing two. Last season Monaco won their home match 3-1 while they earned a 1-1 draw in Paris, as Neymar scored a second half equaliser after Kevin Volland had given the visitors a first half lead.

As well as winning five Ligue 1 games on the bounce, Enrique’s team has won its last five at the Parc des Princes, but Monaco are in good form with four wins, one draw and one defeat from the last six games.   

The Ligue 1 2023 betting odds rate PSG as hot favourites, priced at 1.11 to win the league for a tenth time in 12 seasons, while Monaco, at odds of 15.00, are the third favourites with Nice at 13.00.      

Betting Tip

The Parisiens are at SBOTOP odds of 1.39 to win and, with Mbappe and Hakimi in such good form while Monaco have selection problems, I can’t see past a home win; and the league leaders have been ahead at the break in each of their recent five victories.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.