Monaco finished last season in third place while PSG dominated French Ligue for the last four years. To date since the start of the season, Monaco won three matches and lost once in the Champions League, while in their domestic league they won one and drew the other. PSG after defeating Lyon in the Super Cup continued to dominate Ligue 1 with a 100 % record winning both matches. PSG must be wary as last season Monaco beat them in what was a surprise in the championship and also defeated them at home, so now PSG will be gunning for revenge.
Monaco will hope to repeat what they did to PSG last season after qualifying to the group stages of the Champions League. In the third qualifying round they lost the first leg in Istanbul 2-1 but won the second leg beating Turkish side Fenerbahce by 3-1. In the playoffs they eliminated Spanish Villarreal after two slim wins.
But those matches in Europe took its toll on them as they could only draw with Guingamp 2-2 after coming back from two goals down. Last weekend when they played away against Nantes they managed to get the job done but just by a mere 1-0 win. Coach Jardim knows the main problem his players will be facing is tiredness and fatigue, but he has no choice to keep the same players other then injured strikers Falcao and Vagner Love and offensive midfielder Lemar.
Meanwhile, PSG started the season the same way they ended it with three wins. First it was in the Super Cup over Lyon when they won 3-1.Then with a half strength team they beat Bastia away from home by 1-0. Last weekend they beat newcomer Metz by 3-0 at home. So that only shows that even without Ibrahimovic in the side they are still above the rest in the championships.
Now their target would be in the Champions League and they will want to go further then just reaching the quarter finals. But at the moment coach Emery uses very little if any of their new players such as Meunier, Krychowiak, Ben Arfa and Jese, although the last one is currently injured, and will play no part together with stopper Thiago Silva. Other then that the likes of midfielder Verratti and stopper Marquinhos, who just returned from the Olympic Games will not be available for this clash.
Go for PSG to get the win and give the 1/2 ball Asian Handicap at 1.84 with Ladbrokes.
Prediction
- Monaco and Paris SG will play this Sunday at 19:45 in a very balanced match of Ligue 1 Round 3. The last head to head match between the two teams was in March this year, Monaco defeat their opponents: 2-0.
- PSG won two of the last three matches against Monaco and they lose only one of the last ten matches against their opponents today.
- PSG are the favourites at the bookmakers today, they will start this match with the first chance to the victory but we expect a close fought from the outset as Monaco at home is playing great at home and for sure will try to attack their opponents from the outset. Today we expect to see over 1,5 goals scored between the two teams, as in the last three head to head matches between Monaco and PSG were scored over 1,5 goals.
- Monaco comes after a 1-0 victory with Villarreal in Champions League, they won the last three matches in all competitions.
- PSG comes after a 3-0 victory with Metz in Ligue 1, they won their last nine matches in all competitions.
