Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain Preview – Prediction, how to watch & potential line-ups

Stade Louis II forms the backdrop for a massive, heavyweight Ligue 1 clash between Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday afternoon.

Les Monegasques have got 2023 off to a flying league start, clocking five wins and two draws since the turn of the year to reignite their top-three hopes. 

Monaco took full advantage of their fellow Champions League rivals’ slip-ups last weekend to climb within one point of third-placed Lens with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Clermont Foot. 

While they remain part of a cluster of clubs battling to be the best of rest behind runaway leaders PSG, Philippe Clement’s men could blow the title race open again with a win here.

However, Les Parisiens seem to have left an underwhelming four-game league start to the new calendar year firmly behind (W1, D1, L2), winning back-to-back matches in the lead-up to this trip. 

Last Saturday’s come-from-behind 2-1 home triumph over newly-promoted Toulouse solidified PSGs’ place at the top, as they boast a substantial ten-point lead over Monaco at the beginning of this round.

But not all is rosy at the Parc des Princes. 

In addition to losing headline performer Kylian Mbappe to a thigh injury, Christophe Galtier’s team finished on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline against Marseille in midweek Coupe de France action. 

Match Preview

Monaco 

Monaco have recently been PSG’s kryptonite, having won their last two top-flight matches against them in the French principality, including a sublime 3-0 triumph in this corresponding fixture in 2021/22. 

Though it’s hard to expect a repeat of that result this time, Les Monegasques fancy their chances against a PSG side they’ve defeated more often (44 times) in Ligue 1 than any other side. 

Clement’s men have found the net in their last 32 league outings, totalling 73 goals at an average of 2.28 per game, suggesting the visitors’ fragile backline could be under serious threat. 

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG are on the cusp of setting an unwanted record as they could lose three consecutive away league matches against specific opposition for the first time in the Qatari era.

Continuous lapses of concentration that have seen Galtier’s side concede in four consecutive Ligue 1 games for the first time since May 2021 don’t bode well. 

Speaking of ominous signs, Les Parisiens have managed just one win in four league encounters in 2022/23 against clubs currently occupying the top-five positions (D1, L2).

Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain Potential Line-ups

Monaco (4-4-2): Alexander Nubel; Ruben Aguilar, Axel Disasi, Guillermo Maripan, Caio Henrique; Takumi Minamino, Mohamed Camara, Fofana, Aleksandr Golovin; Wissam Ben Yedder, Breel Embolo. 

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-1-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Sergio Ramos, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Danilo Pereira, Marco Verratti; Carlos Soler; Lionel Messi, Neymar. 

How to Watch?

Monaco vs PSG, coupled with all other Ligue 1 fixtures, is available to watch online via Ligue 1 live streams.

Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain Prediction 

PSG battled back to break down Toulouse thanks to a vintage Lionel Messi goal last weekend, but they once again looked out of pace and will need a far better performance to pick up points at the Stade Louis II.

Given Monaco’s superb league form in 2023, we wouldn’t put it past Clement’s side to beat the joint-record French champions.

Monaco 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain