Paris Saint-Germain’s poor start to 2023 continued as Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice in Monaco’s 3-1 win over the Ligue 1 leaders, who sorely missed the injured Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Hamstring problems kept Messi and Mbappe out at the Stade Louis II, and with the likes of Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi on the bench, Christoph Galtier’s sub-par side were at sea.
Aleksandr Golovin struck early for Monaco and Ben Yedder doubled the lead before half-time, punishing 17-year-old El Chadaille Bitshiab’s mistake with his first goal.
Sixteen-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery briefly put PSG back into contention ahead of Ben Yedder’s second, but PSG’s defensive shortcomings ensured they suffered their third league defeat since the turn of the year.
PSG fell behind just four minutes after a disastrous display, Golovin poking home after Youssouf Fofana had tricked Ben Yedder into a blocked effort with a powerful drive.
Monaco continued to test PSG’s jittery midfield and punished a mistake by Bitshiabu in the 18th minute when Ben Yedder slotted past Gianluigi Donnarumma after the defender carelessly lost the ball.
PSG halved the arrears when Juan Bernat’s cut-back found Zaire-Emery for a simple tap-in, but the excellent Ben Yedder restored Monaco’s two-goal lead with an even one-on-one finish as half-time approached.
Ben Yedder almost added to his tally with a powerful header after 61 minutes, but Donnarumma denied him with a firm one-handed stop.
Donnarumma was then alert to prevent half-time substitute Ramos from slotting into his own net as PSG escaped further humiliation but will need major improvement ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
PSG player ratings (3-5-2)
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma – 7/10 – The burly, bearded Italian was left beleaguered by the calamities of his teammates. Though the finger of incompetence couldn’t be pointed his way.
CB: Danilo Pereira – 5/10 – The little time he spent in defence was not successful. More comfortable in midfield.
CB: Marquinhos – 3/10 – At the heart of a shambolic defence, PSG’s skipper has to take the brunt of the considerable backlash bound to crash his way.
CB: El Chadaille Bitshiabu – 2/10 – Endured a truly ruinous outing which was mercifully concluded at the half-time interval.
RWB: Timothe Pembele – 5/10 – The best of a bad bunch at the back in a display which provides a potent reminder that everything is relative.
CM: Warren Zaire-Emery – 5/10 – In the right place at the right time to score his goal but scarcely involved anywhere else at any time either side of his tap-in.
CM: Vitinha – 4/10 – Swarmed and swamped in a midfield which really missed the absent Marco Verratti.
CM: Carlos Soler – 5/10 – Spluttered into life in the attacking third.
LWB: Juan Bernat – 3/10 – Got forward well but not enough to make up for his calamitous attempts at defending.
ST: Hugo Ekitike – 3/10 – Genuinely a challenge to remember the striker was on the pitch.
ST: Neymar – 4/10 – Starved of the ball as he laboured without two members of PSG’s glitzy front three.
Substitutes
Sergio Ramos (46′ for Bitshiabu) – 6/10 – Provided more security with a typically proactive approach.
Ismael Gharbi (59′ for Danilo) – 5/10
Achraf Hakimi (66′ for Pembele) – 3/10 – Did little aside from collecting a suspension-inducing yellow card.
Presnel Kimpembe (80′ for Vitinha) – N/A
Ilyes Housni (80′ for Ekitike) – N/A
Manager
Christophe Galtier – 2/10 – Robbed of numerous first-team players but still equipped with enough talent to construct a lineup which didn’t implode. Galtier desperately needs to find a way to stop his team from being so susceptible to the press. Fortunately, Bayern aren’t famously aggressive off the ball, oh wait…
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