Monaco Breaks PSG’s European Vibes with a Narrow 1-0 Win

Monaco edge PSG in a European-flavored showdown

In a clash that felt like a Champions League night, Monaco earned a precious 1-0 victory over defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, at the peak of Ligue 1’s round 14.

Takumi Minamino scored the only goal for Monaco in the 68th minute, and the visitors finished with ten men after German defender Tilo Kehrer was sent off in the 80th.

With this win Monaco snapped a run of three straight league defeats and ended their surprise draw with Pafos in the Champions League, recording their seventh league win of the campaign to move to 23 points in sixth place.

PSG, meanwhile, suffered their second league defeat of the season, staying on 30 points but facing pressure at the top as Marseille and Lens trailed with 28 points before this round’s fixtures.

Louis Enrique started with a familiar setup: a goalkeeper, a back line, and a midfield trio behind a forward line. The exact names conveyed PSG’s balance as they sought momentum to turn the game in their favor.

Monaco dominated possession and looked the more dangerous side. They struck the woodwork through a Sallesou (Mohamed Saliu) effort in the 33rd minute, and an earlier close-range finish by the same player was ruled offside after a VAR check against a teammate.

Paris Saint-Germain’s attempts in open play did not test the Monaco goalkeeper decisively in the opening period.

PSG grew into the second half, but Monaco remained compact and lethal on the counter. Ensuing substitutions from both benches added offensive intent, with Paris seeking a quick equalizer while Monaco looked to extend the lead.

Then, a long ball from a Monaco midfielder found Golovin on the left; he delivered a cross that Minamino finished with a neat left-footed strike in the 68th minute, taking his tally to three Ligue 1 goals in 13 appearances this season.

In the final stages, Pogba came on for a late push, and Kehrer’s red card left PSG a man short. PSG pressed for a stoppage-time equalizer, but the Monaco defense held firm as the clock crept towards full time.

PSG’s late pressure yielded a few half-chances, including a saved effort and a couple of narrowly missed set-piece moments, and when the final whistle blew, Monaco had secured a historic scalp for the campaign and PSG suffered a second league defeat of the season.

For PSG, the defeat stings: 30 points, still top on goal difference, but with Marseille and Lens snapping at their heels. For Monaco, the victory boosts belief and momentum as they push for a high finish in Ligue 1.

Punchline 1: If Monaco played hide-and-seek with PSG, they’d still win—because their defense hides and their counter attacks seek, and somehow they always find the target.

Punchline 2: PSG’s plan was simple: attack, attack, attack—until the scoreboard politely reminded them to defend, where they were politely invited to sit down and watch the replays.