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Mauricio Pochettino’s Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hosted Monaco for their matchday 18 clash in Ligue 1 on Sunday night. The hosts dominated proceedings, played effective football and walked away with a well-deserved 2-0 win, courtesy of a Kylian Mbappe double. The win saw PSG extend their lead at the summit to 13 points, inching closer to bringing the Ligue 1 title back to Paris.
Monaco, who have been below par in Ligue 1 this season, struck the post after just a couple of minutes of play. The PSG midfielders were sloppy in possession in the opening minutes and struggled to keep hold of the ball. Fortunately, the hosts soon found their footing at the Parc des Princes and went ahead through a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
The former Monaco man struck again just before the half-time whistle to take the game away from the traveling side. The two teams collectively decided to drop the intensity in the second half and did not do enough to make the scoreboard tick. Monaco created a couple of chances, but they were easily dealt with by the home team.
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In many ways, Monaco never quite managed to push PSG into overdrive, allowing the leaders to play a relatively comfortable game in Paris.
Here are the five PSG players who helped the team from the capital cruise to a 2-0 win over Monaco on Sunday night:
#5 Angel Di Maria
With Neymar ruled out with an ankle injury until 2022, Pochettino has been using Angel Di Maria in a more advanced role in recent matches. Against Monaco, Di Maria started on the right-wing for PSG and kept the defenders guessing all night long.
Apart from drawing the foul for Mbappe’s penalty in the 12th minute, Di Maria delivered a couple of long balls and attempted five dribbles. The former Real Madrid man also put in a decent defensive shift. The 33-year-old won five duels, performed two interceptions and even blocked a shot.
#4 Abdou Diallo
Abdou Diallo has been one of the first names on Pochettino’s team sheet lately and deservedly so. The centre-back was once again a rock at the back for PSG last night, shouldering his defensive responsibilities with ease.
Diallo performed one clearance, blocked an effort, had four interceptions and attempted four tackles. The Senegalese also won four ground duels for PSG and was only dribbled past once in the match.
#3 Gianluigi Donnarumma
PSG’s high-profile keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has had to vie with Keylor Navas for minutes under the crossbar. Last night, he produced a sure-footed performance for PSG, which could be enough to keep Navas at bay for a couple of matches.
After being saved by the post in the second minute, Donnarumma made it a point to be more assertive inside the box. Over the course of the 90, the Italian made three saves, with one of them coming inside the box, and claimed the ball twice.
His distribution was neat as well, with five of his long-balls reaching their intended destinations.
#2 Lionel Messi
PSG’s only Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi has emerged as the club’s leading goalscorer in the Champions League this season. Scoring five goals in as many appearances, Messi has defined efficiency for PSG in Europe but has been rather ordinary in the French top-flight.
Last night, the Argentine once again failed to hit the mark, but still ended up walking away as one of the team’s best players.
In typical fashion, Messi spent the opening few minutes reading the tempo of the game and only came into it after the 30-minute mark. His biggest contribution came in the 45th minute when he intercepted a pass from Youssouf Fofana, drove forward, and set up Mbappe on the left.
Messi came close to scoring himself in the second half, but struck it narrowly wide of Monaco’s goal.
#1 Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe burst onto the scene during the 2016-17 campaign. Having risen through Monaco’s youth system, Mbappe helped his side take the fight to PSG that season and eventually nick the Ligue 1 title.
He also guided his side deep into the UEFA Champions League and was only bested by Juventus in the semi-finals.
Mbappe is still loved dearly in that part of France, even though he regularly helps their rivals, PSG, to register important wins every other day. On Sunday, Mbappe produced another important performance for PSG, scoring twice against his former employers in Paris.
The Frenchman’s first strike came from the spot in the 12th minute after Angel Di Maria drew a foul from Djibril Sidibe inside the box. Mbappe kept his penalty low and to the left, not allowing Monaco goalkeeper Radosław Majecki to react.
His second goal of the night came just before the half-interval, courtesy of a moment of genius from Lionel Messi. Mbappe cut in, struck the ball with his right foot and found the far corner comfortably to score his 100th Ligue 1 goal for PSG.
