Paris Saint-Germain suffered a damaging setback ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Chelsea as AS Monaco secured a 3-1 victory in Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes on Friday.
Maghnes Akliouche put Monaco in front in the first half before Aleksandr Golovin doubled the lead early in the second period. Although Bradley Barcola reduced the deficit for Paris Saint-Germain, Folarin Balogun quickly restored Monaco’s two-goal cushion to seal an important win.
The defeat comes at a difficult moment for PSG, who are preparing for a season-defining Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea, with the first leg in Paris on Wednesday and the return scheduled for March 17.
Monaco’s victory also carried an element of revenge after they were knocked out by PSG in the Champions League knockout play-offs last month. The principality side squandered a two-goal advantage across the tie, losing 3-2 in the first leg before a 2-2 draw in the return sent PSG through 5-4 on aggregate.
PSG coach Luis Enrique admitted the result was far from ideal preparation for the European clash.
“It is not the best result going into the Champions League. We are aware of that,” he said. “When you play like that against a team in a very positive dynamic like Monaco, you pay for it.”
The loss also dents PSG’s bid for a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title. Their nearest challengers, RC Lens, can cut the gap at the top from four points to one if they defeat FC Metz on Sunday.
It was PSG’s fourth league defeat in 25 matches this season and their seventh loss in all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign. The Parisians have now been beaten four times in the current calendar year, a worrying trend compared to the form that carried them to their first Champions League title last season.
Luis Enrique acknowledged his side are struggling for rhythm. “We are clearly in difficulty at the moment but we need to maintain hope that will change. Confidence is not something you buy at the supermarket,” he said.
One positive for PSG was the return of Ousmane Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, who came off the bench after recovering from injury. However, he has started only 14 of PSG’s 40 matches this season, raising questions about his fitness ahead of the Chelsea encounter.
Monaco took the lead just before the half-hour when PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery lost possession inside his own box. The ball fell to Balogun, who teed up Akliouche to finish.
Golovin then made it 2-0 in the 55th minute, producing a clinical first-time finish shortly after coming on as a substitute when PSG midfielder Vitinha inadvertently played the ball into his path.
PSG briefly threatened a comeback when Achraf Hakimi set up Barcola for a first-time strike that deflected off Jordan Teze and beat Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn.
But Monaco quickly ended the hosts’ hopes as Balogun’s long-range effort took a slight touch off Nuno Mendes on its way in, giving the United States striker his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.
The victory continues Monaco’s strong run of form, with five wins and two draws from their last seven Ligue 1 games, lifting them to fifth place in the table.
“I am proud of the team,” said Monaco coach Sebastien Pocognoli. “We feel there is a really positive momentum building.”
