Paris Saint Germain have begun the Ligue 1 2022/23 season in rollicking fashion. Not only do they have a 100% perfect win record, but they have also been brilliant in all three games and have scored goals aplenty. Visitors AS Monaco, who will make the trip to the capital on Sunday, have struggled meanwhile. They have recorded a win, a loss, and a draw in their three matches so far and are currently in the lower half of the Ligue 1 2022/23 table.
In just three matches, the defending champions have already hit the ground running and have notched up 17 goals already. The new-look PSG side under manager Christophe Galtier already look like they will be extremely difficult to stop this season and their primary goal would be to retain their Ligue 1 title after victory last season as well.
The early signs couldn’t have been more promising for the Parisian outfit. Far from the disjointed and disconcerted lackadaisical unit under Mauricio Pochettino last season, the players have oozed more class and chemistry all over the pitch. While there was no shortage of stars in the PSG dressing room even last season, their temperament and hunger to succeed looks much more apparent in this current campaign under Galtier.
The side from the capital travelled to Galtier’s former stomping ground at Lille, where he delivered the Ligue 1 title sensationally against all odds two seasons ago, beating PSG in the process. However, this time in charge of the opposition dugout, he showed no mercy as PSG ran out 7-1 winners on the night in a night of destruction and demolition.
Latching onto the perfect lofted pass from Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe displayed his extreme burst of pace to get on to the ball and chip the opposition goalkeeper to score the fastest goal in Ligue 1 history after the finding the back of the net inside eight seconds against Lille. That early goal set the tone for the remainder of the contest as a bloodbath ensued on the pitch.
Paris Saint Germain continued to rack up goals left, right, and centre with Achraf Hakimi, Messi and Neymar virtually wrapping up the victory before half-time. In the second half, Neymar scored another goal while Mbappe completed his hattrick.
That was a statement win from PSG which is expected to sow fear into the rest of the league. They are yet to drop points after three matches this season and are second in the table, behind Lens who have already played four games. In three matches, Galtier’s side has scored 14 goals while conceding only thrice.
During the midweek, Paris Saint Germain players found out their Champions League group stage opponents in Juventus, Benfica, and Maccabi Haifa. While winning Europe’s premier competition for the first time in their history will obviously be the main focus for them this season, motoring along in Ligue 1 will do nothing but further their cause at the continental level.
Given the blistering run of form they have been in as well as how Monaco have struggled, expect nothing but a victory for PSG here which could potentially turn into another goalfest at home.
Monaco, obviously, missed out on the chance to compete in the UEFA Champions League this season after losing 4-3 on aggregate to PSV Eindhoven in the third round of the qualifiers earlier this month.
Having taken over the side only in January in 2022, new manager Philippe Clement has done a great job with the team, improving Moncao’s form by leaps and bounds. While they haven’t made the start that he’d have desired his first full campaign with the club, they will be focusing on the road ahead. The disappointment of missing out on Champions League football has only been worsened by the fact that they have just four points from their first three league matches in 2022/23.
The most harrowing aspect of that run was obviously the 4-1 defeat at home to Lens last weekend. It came out of the blue as the visitors ran riot against Monaco and blew them away with goals from Lois Openda, Deiver Machado and Seko Fofana already sealing the contest before the hour mark.
Monaco have been prone to lapses in concentration and losing their discipline as well. Vanderson’s dismissal in the 72nd minute was their second in a row after Youssouf Fofana also saw a red card in the previous game against Rennes.
It goes without saying that such infringements on the pitch have hardly helped their cause. Going into this encounter on what could possibly be their biggest challenge of the season, AS Monaco players will need to keep their heads about themselves and keep all 11 players on the pitch if they wish to avoid getting humiliated by a high-flying PSG side.
PSG vs ASM, Ligue 1 2022/23
Date: 29th August, 2022
Time: 12:15 AM IST
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
FORM GUIDE:
Paris Saint Germain Ligue 1 form:
- W-W-W
Paris Saint Germain form (all competitions):
- W-W-W-W
AS Monaco Ligue 1 form:
- W-D-L
AS Monaco form (all competitions):
- D-W-L-D-L
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Paris Saint Germain wins: 20
Draws: 15
AS Monaco: 14
TEAM NEWS:
Paris Saint Germain Team News:
Paris Saint Germain will have to make do without the services of several players once again. Keylor Navas is struggling with back problems, Colin Dagba has a calf injury, while Julian Draxler has a knee problem. As a result, they have been sidelined for the visit of Monaco in the country capital on Sunday.
After putting in an excellent shift against LOSC Lille last time around, Galtier is unlikely to make too many changes to his team. In fact, the only replacement may come in the form of Leandro Paredes slotting in for the suspended Vitinha in midfield.
The chemistry between Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe has already proven to be lethal for several teams in the league this season. The triumvirate have wreaked havoc on unsuspecting defensive units and that may also be the fate for AS Monaco heading into the clash on Sunday.
AS Monaco Team News:
Monaco will obviously travel to Paris without Vanderson who will have to serve a one-match suspension after seeing his marching orders against Lens. Myron Broadu has also been ruled out of the contest with a foot injury.
In order to replace Vanderson in the starting XI, Ruben Aguilar could slot at right-back. Meanwhile, Mohamed Camara may also return to the centre of the engine room in an attempt to create a numerical superiority in the middle of the park and avoid getting run over by PSG.
There are also doubts regarding the possible participation of Yilan Okour and Willem Geubbels as they are suffering from muscle strains. As a result, Youssouf Fofana, who will return to the side after serving his one-game suspension in the previous match could end up partnering Camara in midfield. In order to accommodate him, former Liverpool player Takumi Minamino is likely to be the one sacrificed in attack.
Paris Saint Germain possible starting lineup:
Donnarumma; Ramos, Marquinhos, Kimpembe; Hakimi, Paredes, Verratti, Mendes; Messi, Neymar; Mbappe
AS Monaco possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Aguilar, Disasi, Badiashile, Henrique; Lucas, Fofana, Camara; Diatta, Ben Yedder, Embolo
Predictions:
Following their surprising and uncharacteristic slump last weekend where they suffered a four-goal hammering, Monaco will be expected to show more grit and determination in their performance. However, being shaken to perform at their top level may not even be enough to stop the already-threatening PSG juggernaut.
Galtier has emphasised on the side to play free-flowing football and building up from the back. They are wiser in controlling the midfield areas and more secure at the back this season. And then there’s the trio of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe. All signs point to a big victory for PSG here!
