Paris Saint-Germain – AS Monaco: Les Monégasques Retake Top Spot as PSG Continue Slow Start (1-2)

The Parc des Princes awaited a celebration that would never come. It was meant to be the game where Paris Saint-Germain woke themselves up from their slumber and reasserted their dominance. Instead, AS Monaco would come from behind to take all three points and sit top of the Ligue 1 table for another weekend. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Paris Saint-Germain’s slow start to the season continued last weekend with a draw away to Lille OSC. It was the second Ligue 1 fixture in which the reigning champions needed a shot to the arm at halftime to rescue a point. It’s perhaps too early to talk of complacency, especially when we’ve seen this all before. Under Luis Enrique, Les Parisiens are slow starters and strong finishers, and few will remember August if May comes with another Champions League trophy. 

AS Monaco’s season has begun in far different circumstances. Before Lille OSC’s victory on Thursday night, Les Monégasques were top of the table – and could return to their spot if they avoided defeat in the French capital. Life under Filipe Luís has been promising, with four wins out of four across all competitions, albeit none of them were against particularly difficult opponents, Olympique de Marseille included. 

Luis Enrique went with a 4-3-3 shape. Matvey Safonov started in goal behind a back four of Warren . . .