PSG stunned at home by in-form Monaco as Ligue 1 title race takes another turn

[p]With both sides coming into this game in good form, the attacking intent was plentiful, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/monaco/2PIvr8o4/"]Monaco[/a] should have taken the lead after just five minutes played, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zakaria-denis/d23lOQrL/"]Denis Zakaria[/a] somehow headed over the bar from inside the box, following an exquisite delivery by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/caio-henrique/dr5D8pxI/"]Caio Henrique[/a] on the left flank.[/p][p]The reigning European champions almost made Les Rouge et Blanc pay for that miss instantly, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kohn-philipp/WYUNrwz4/"]Philipp Kohn[/a] came to Monaco’s rescue with a vital block, which prevented [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hakimi-achraf/MqFBkBsp/"]Achraf Hakimi[/a] from edging [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Les Parisiens[/a] ahead.[/p][p]Sebastien Pocognoli’s team fully capitalised on those heroics in the 27th minute - albeit thanks to a dreadful mistake from PSG’s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zaire-emery-warren/neJeseDL/"]Warren Zaire-Emery[/a].[/p][p][b]The France international dribbled with the ball inside his own penalty area, but a heavy touch enabled an interception where [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Balogun[/a] found [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/akliouche-maghnes/0UP6MLGJ/"]Maghnes Akliouche[/a], who lashed the ball home in off the post for his fifth Ligue 1 goal of the season.[/b][/p][embed guid="4b22680e-7e01-44e9-8cbe-da24bef91190" url="https://x.com/Ligue1_ENG/status/2030014761216397414" social-type="twitter" /][p]Despite the hosts having 73% of the first-half possession, they had nothing to show for it, giving Luis Enrique much to ponder at the break.[/p][p]However, things would soon go from bad to worse for PSG, as Monaco found themselves two goals in front 10 minutes after the restart.[/p][p][b]Following a deflection from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vitinha/Sz9SH7zj/"]Vitinha[/a] inside his own area, the ball arrived at the feet of substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/golovin-aleksandr/WSP08bVp/"]Aleksandr Golovin[/a], and he made no mistake in finding the bottom corner from just over 12 yards out.[/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="1c603527-682f-4df3-96db-d6034b0bc771" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="0eeb20f2-d77c-4829-82ea-e25b09d7ca76" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Golovin’s second-half introduction was clearly an inspired one as only a tremendous save by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/safonov-matvey/zJF3W9Rq/"]Matvey Safonov[/a] prevented the Russian midfielder from extending the visitors’ lead in sensational style only a couple of minutes later.[/p][p][b]The drama intensified with just under 20 minutes left as the hosts grabbed a precious goal to halve the deficit, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barcola-bradley/lhGD3RgS/"]Bradley Barcola[/a]’s deflected strike did just enough to beat Kohn at his near post. [/b][/p][p][b]The script indicated a stirring comeback for Enrique’s side, but Pocognoli’s side proceeded to tear that up in emphatic fashion, as Balogun’s wonderful finish from over 20 yards restored Monaco’s two-goal advantage after 73 minutes. [/b][/p][p]Balogun’s goal completely knocked the stuffing out of PSG, and the ailing champions came close to conceding a fourth late on, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adingra-simon/6kgBNHG6/"]Simon Adingra[/a]’s effort rattled off the bar.[/p][embed guid="c995d87a-98b8-4a96-870c-a656343d66a8" url="https://x.com/AS_Monaco_EN/status/2030032002255090116" social-type="twitter" /][p]PSG’s surprise home defeat means that Les Parisiens remain four points clear at the top of Ligue 1, but a victory for RC Lens over FC Metz on Sunday would close that gap to just one.[/p][p]Meanwhile, Monaco’s latest win sees Les Rouge et Blanc move up to fifth position and boosts their hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Folarin Balogun[/a] (Monaco)[/b][/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="2a375c0e-d96f-4030-9274-a4dcfadc984f" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="7557f2f1-28dd-4a2e-9930-adefd14d6c4e" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/monaco-2PIvr8o4/psg-CjhkPw0k/summary/stats/?mid=IoAaxQM9"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]