AS Monaco were thoroughly bested by the burgeoning force of Paris FC at the Stade Jean Bouin on Sunday (3-1) as the Principality club’s winless run in Ligue 1 was extended to four games.
Paris FC are imperious at home. Heading into the game, they hadn’t trailed for a single minute at the Stade Jean Bouin all season. Monaco never looked like threatening that impressive record. All of the chances in the first half belonged to the hosts. Moses Simon almost got on the end of a Samir Chergui flick-on. Any touch would have sufficed to turn it home, you felt.
Pierre Lees-Melou was afforded the time to strike the outside of the post and Sadibou SanĂ© then struck his own bar with a defensive header. Lassine Sinayoko forced Lukas Hradecky into a strong save from close range but there was little to suggest that the chances wouldn’t keep coming. It was about Liam Rosenior’s side putting one away.
Balogun nets his first goal of the season
They did so just before half-time. Les Parisiens were creative and zippy enough to create their own openings, but Monaco were also there to offer a helping hand. A misplaced ball from Lamine Camara on the edge of his own box provided a golden opening, almost squandered by Ilan Kebbal, who slipped when asked to control, but he retrieved the ball, played a swivel pass into Maxime Lopez, who found Sinayoko. As he was for his earlier chance, he was unmarked. This time he finished.
It was the Malian again moments later, this time striding beyond Eric Dier before finishing emphatically into the bottom corner on the half-volley. The response from Monaco? Nothing before half-time, but the introductions of Folarin Balogun and Christian Mawissa did at least stem the flow of Paris FC’s chances, while also allowing them to build through the lines with greater ease.
Liam Rosenior had perhaps surprised Filipe LuĂs by starting with a back three. It was by matching their opponents that Les MonĂ©gasques could build and momentarily give themselves hope of a comeback. Balogun latched onto a Vanderson ball to finish from close range and register his first goal of the season.
Conference League as welcome relief
The USMNT forward had another effort on the swivel, but it was far from a siege on Kevin Trapp’s goal. By dropping Aleksandr Golovin into the No.8 position, and through the introductions of the likes of Takumi Minamino, Balogun, and Mathys Detourbet, LuĂs had thrown everything but the kitchen sink at Paris FC.
Naturally, there were spaces for Les Parisiens to exploit and Sinayoko was always going to be the one to exploit them. Running in behind, he then toyed with Dier, dragging him across goal, before turning, finding Pablo Pagis, who finished first time. The cushion restored, Paris FC were always comfortable here.
When you win your duels, as Samir Chergui, Pagis, Sinayoko, Simon, Lopez, etc. all did, you win games; when you lose them, you lose. This was a day where Paris FC made football look simple and their superiority over Monaco was glaringly evident. You have to strain your eyes to see any positive in Sunday’s performance, which is, nonetheless, in line with the downward trajectory.
That is now four games (two draws, two losses) without a win in Ligue 1. Top of Ligue 1 at the start of that run, Monaco are now sixth and could slip further before the end of the gameweek. It was hoped that the Conference League win against Freiburg and the manner of it would provide the momentum to get back on track in the league. They return to European competition this week, a welcome solace for Monaco and LuĂs amid their continued domestic struggles.
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Photo source: AS MonacoÂ