Good evening! Thank you very much for joining
Sports Mole for tonight's huge Ligue 1 clash between the top two in the table as Monaco welcome
Paris Saint-Germain to the Stade Louis II!
The champions currently trail PSG by six points and know that defeat tonight could spell the end of their title hopes after just 14 games of the season, with the free-spending capital outfit in scintillating form at the moment.
It promises to be a thrilling contest between two high-scoring sides, but before we take a closer look let's first check out the team news...
MONACO STARTING XI: Subasic; Glik, Jemerson, Raggi; Touré, Fabinho, Moutinho, Tielemans, Jorge; Falcao, Keita Balde
PSG STARTING XI: Areola; Alves, Marquinhos, Silva, Kurzawa; Verratti, Rabiot, Draxler; Mbappe, Cavani,
Neymar
What can we make of those two sides, then?
Well, starting with the hosts they have seemingly resisted the temptation to mimic PSG's 4-3-3 formation, instead choosing to stick with what looks like a 4-5-1 system this evening which will see the in-form Radamel Falcao lead the line alone.
Falcao may have lost many of the star players that surrounded him during Monaco's brilliant run to the Ligue 1 title and Champions League semi-finals last season, but his own goalscoring has not slowed.
The Colombian international has found the back of the net 13 times in just 10 Ligue 1 appearances so far this term, while in all competitions his scoring rate is also impressive at 16 goals in 17 outings. He will likely be Monaco's main dangerman this evening.
The issue for Monaco this season has been the lack of support for Falcao when it comes to shouldering the goalscoring mantle.
Last season they had the likes of Mbappe, Bernardo Silva and a fully fit Thomas Lemar around him in the final third of the pitch, but this season the next highest scorers for Monaco in Ligue 1 have been Traore and Keita, both of whom have only three goals apiece. Keita starts this evening, but Monaco need more goals from elsewhere if they are to catch the leaders.
Lemar has been sidelined since the beginning of November and remains absent for tonight's game, while Traore also misses out through injury today, but there is better news on the injury front where Sidibe is concerned as the defender is deemed fit enough for the bench.
Almamy Toure also returns to the fold for Monaco and could feature in a wing-back role tonight should Monaco opt to play three at the back rather than a 4-4-2 system.
Toure in for Lopes is the only change made by Monaco from their heavy home defeat to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, while PSG are unchanged from their only Champions League exploits which saw them thrash Celtic 7-1 at the Parc des Princes.
That means starts again for the front three of Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe, the latter of whom returns to the Stade Louis II for the first time since leaving the club during the summer on an initial loan deal which will turn into a £166m permanent move at the end of the season.
The productivity of that front three has been frightening so far this season, and despite the huge transfer fees surrounding Neymar and Mbappe, it is
Edinson Cavani who has arguably been the most impressive of the lot.
The Uruguayan striker has scored a phenomenal 23 goals in just 21 games across all competitions this season, while in Ligue 1 alone he has 15 goals and two assists in 12 outings.
© Offside
Neymar and Mbappe are not far behind, though, with the £200m world-record signing directly contributing to 21 goals in his 14 appearances since joining PSG, scoring 13 times and assisting eight more, including eight goals and five assists in nine Ligue 1 games.
Mbappe, meanwhile, has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 13 appearances for the club, four of which on each count have come in Ligue 1.
There are three changes to this PSG side from the one that beat Nantes last weekend, with Yuri, Pastore and Di Maria being replaced by Kurzawa, Draxler and Mbappe, and the fact that
Unai Emery can name a team with the likes of Di Maria, Meunier and Pastore on the bench shows just how strong his squad is.
the defence of Alves, Silva, Marquinhos and Kurzawa has a distinctly Brazilian feel to it, and there is plenty more flair in midfield too.
It really is a star-studded team that PSG bring to the Stade Louis II this evening, but Monaco will be confident of becoming the first team to stop them this season given their impressive record against the capital outfit in recent years, not to mention their pressing need for victory.
The reigning champions already find themselves six points adrift of PSG at the top of the Ligue 1 table, and another defeat this evening would see that gap grow to nine - which could well be unassailable considering PSG's brilliant form.
In truth, the fact that Monaco are still PSG's closest challengers for the title is impressive considering how many key players they lost from their title-winning squad, which was the first Monaco team to win the Ligue 1 crown since 2000.
Only leaders PSG have scored more that the Principality's 35 from 13 games, while just two teams have conceded fewer too.
Monaco are not doing a great deal wrong, then, but their form across all competitions has been patchy of late and they come into tonight's match off the back of a damaging Champions League defeat in midweek.
Leonardo Jardim's side fell to a 4-1 home loss at the hands of RB Leipzig on Tuesday, ensuring that last season's semi-finalists will finish bottom of Group G. Many would have made Monaco favourites to win that group too as they were up against Leipzig, Besiktas and Porto, but they have picked up only two points from the 15 on offer.
That Champions League form means that Monaco come into this match having only won one of their last four games across all competitions and just three of their last 10, with four defeats in that time too.
However, they are unbeaten in their last four Ligue 1 outings, including three wins and three clean sheets, with the only exception coming in their most recent league match when they were held by surprise package Amiens.
Monaco have won 26 of their 32 Ligue 1 matches in 2017 so far, losing just two of those, while they strung together a magnificent run of 16 consecutive wins at the end of last term and beginning of this before falling to defeat at the hands of Nice in September.
At home Monaco are now unbeaten in their last 16 Ligue 1 outings, including all 15 so far this calendar year, with just one draw in that time and the rest victories.
Monaco have lost three of their last six home games across all competitions due to their dreadful Champions League form, though, and they could lose back-to-back home outings for the first time since September 2015 this evening.
One thing we should be guaranteed tonight is goals, though. Monaco have not failed to score in a home league game since PSG's last win here in August 2015, finding the back of the net in all 42 matches since. Indeed, they have scored two or more goals in 15 of their ongoing 16-match home league unbeaten streak.
Only perfect PSG have picked up more home points in Ligue 1 than Monaco so far this season, while only the leaders have scored more goals too, with Monaco finding the back of the net 21 times in six appearances at an average of 3.5 per game.
Indeed, home and away Monaco have picked up the same number of points in their opening 13 games this term as they did on their way to the title last season, although this time around they have much stiffer competition.
PSG's big summer spending has immediately re-established them as French football's dominant force after seeing their four-year reign come to an end at the hands of Monaco last season, with the capital outfit having started this campaign in scintillating fashion.
Unai Emery's side have dropped just four points in the league all terms, building a six-point lead over Monaco in the process which they could extend even further tonight.
PSG are the only remaining unbeaten team in Ligue 1 this season, and that record stretches to all competitions having lifted the Trophee des Champions and established themselves among the favourites to win the Champions League too with a string of superb performances.
The Parisiens' unbeaten run now stands at 23 games stretching back to last term, with 20 wins in that time since a 3-1 defeat to Nice in April.
Throughout the opening months of the campaign it was hard to see how PSG could improve much further, but if anything they have managed that over the last five games, all of which have ended in convincing victories for Unai Emery's side.
Indeed, PSG have scored 24 goals during those five games at a staggering average of 4.8 per game, while in all competitions they have found the back of the net 69 times in 19 outings this season, still yielding a healthy average of 3.6 per game.
With such a devastating attacking lineup it is no surprise that PSG are faring so well domestically and abroad, and they have scored two or more goals in 14 of their last 16 league outings - including three or more on eight separate occasions already this season.
It will not come as a huge revelation that PSG boast the best attack in Ligue 1 this season with 43 goals from only 13 games, and they have also kept things relatively tight at the other end with only Montpellier having conceded fewer.
PSG's goalscoring exploits have arguably been even more impressive in the Champions League, where Wednesday night's 7-1 hammering of Celtic took them onto 24 goals from their five group games - already a tournament record for the groups with a game still to play.
Despite their perfect record PSG are not quite guaranteed top spot in Group B yet, but they would need to fall to a heavy defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich on the final matchday to let it slip from this position.
PSG have only lost one of their last 33 Ligue 1 outings heading into tonight's match, a run which stretches all the way back to December 17 of last year, but that defeat - and indeed all of their dropped points so far this season - came away from home.
It would not be fair to suggest that the capital outfit are week on the road, though - they are unbeaten in their last nine away games across all competitions and have scored three or more goals in five of their eight trips so far this season, after all.
Unai Emery's side have also won 13 of their 17 Ligue 1 away games so far this calendar year, although they have drawn two of their last four and not won back-to-back games on the road since September - something they could achieve tonight.
Only Monaco can match PSG's away points haul so far this season, although the Parisiens have played a game fewer yet still managed to score the most goals (17).
PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Stade Louis II, which means that it is time for a prediction!
Against any other team in Ligue 1 most would automatically back a PSG win here, but Monaco are so strong at home - at least domestically - and always seem to raise their game when playing PSG. There should hopefully be goals between the divisions two best attacking outfits, but I think they could cancel each other out.
SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Monaco 2-2 PSG
PSG have won the past three meetings between these two sides across all competitions, but each of those have come in various cup matches.
The most recent was a come-from behind 2-1 win for PSG in the Trophee des Champions - the French Super Cup to you and me - at the start of this season, when Alves and Rabiot scored in the second half to cancel out Sidibe's opener.
PSG also won the Coupe de la Ligue final 4-1 and Coupe de France semi-final 5-0 towards the tail end of last season, but in the league it has been a different story.
Monaco are unbeaten in their last three Ligue 1 clashes with PSG stretching back to a 3-0 defeat at home in August 2015, with their most recent contest ending 1-1 in January when Bernardo Silva scored in the 92nd minute after Cavani had given PSG the lead nine minutes from time.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 3-1 win for Monaco with Moutinho and Fabinho among those on the scoreline, which was the champions' fifth win in their last 15 league meetings with PSG.
That may not sound like the most impressive record on the face of it, but considering they have lost just once in that time, with nine draws, it is safe to say that Monaco have had the better of this fixture in the league over the past decade.
Right, we're just a couple of minutes away from kickoff now, so let's have a quick reminder of the team news...
MONACO STARTING XI: Subasic; Glik, Jemerson, Raggi; Touré, Fabinho, Moutinho, Tielemans, Jorge; Falcao, Keita Balde
PSG STARTING XI: Areola; Alves, Marquinhos, Silva, Kurzawa; Verratti, Rabiot, Draxler; Mbappe, Cavani, Neymar
KICKOFF: Here we go then! Monaco get us underway at the Stade Louis II!
Almost an early chance for Monaco to break forward as Rabiot gives the ball away inside his own half, but Falcao cannot take advantage and the attack breaks down.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Mbappe to mark his return to his former club with a goal inside two minutes! It is sensational play from Neymar as he uses brilliant footwork to escape two Monaco defenders before threading a perfectly-weighted ball through for Mbappe. Mbappe beats Subasic to the ball and skips around the keeper, but he can only find the side-netting with the goal gaping. That should have been 1-0!
Monaco will, of course, know exactly what to expect from Mbappe, but if they had forgotten then that is an early warning - not to mention another glimpse of Neymar's brilliance. It really was a clinical move from the visitors.
CHANCE! Half-chance for Monaco at the other end as they win the ball in a good position once again, with Balde Keita eventually collecting it on the edge of the box. He rushes his shot, though, and blazes it well over the crossbar.
CHANCE! Another incredible chance for PSG to take the lead! Alves slides the ball down the right channel for Mbappe, who again gets in behind the defence. He plays it across for Cavani, who can't get enough on his flick to put it on target but does divert it into the path of Draxler at the back post. Draxler goes for it with his wrong foot, though, and puts it wide of a largely open goal from close range.
YELLOW CARD! Jorge picks up an early yellow card for a foul on Alves in the buildup to that chance.
PSG have already missed two chances which are approaching sitters, while Monaco seem to be a little jittery whenever they get forward and are snatching at their chances.
Neymar has already been on the end of a couple of challenges from behind, with Monaco eager to restrict the Brazilian's space at every available opportunity.
Good challenge from Glik as he is quickly out to meet Neymar, smothering the ball as the Brazilian was about to pull the trigger. Neymar stays down, but should be fine to continue.
Falcao collects the ball on the left flank and immediately looks to drive towards goal, but there is a lack of support for the striker and he is eventually crowded out by the PSG defenders. The Colombian needs more help in those situations.
GOAL! Monaco 0-1 PSG (Edinson Cavani)
PSG do find the breakthrough this time, and it is yet another goal for the free-scoring Cavani.
The Uruguayan doesn't need a helping hand to score, but he gets one from the hosts here as first Monaco give the ball away inside their own half and then fail to deal with the danger. Rabiot slips a pass into the box for Draxler, who in turn is allowed to squeeze a cross into the box. Cavani has somehow been left unmarked inside the six-yard box, and he applies a really smart finish to clip the ball into the roof of the net.
Good response from Monaco as they immediately get on the front foot in search of an equaliser, with Falcao leading the charge. PSG deal with a couple of crosses into their box, but Monaco are already playing with a little more urgency going forward now.
PSG are playing with such a swagger at the moment, and they look capable of creating another chance every time they come forward. Monaco may only be one down, but PSG's attacking firepower means that the hosts may need two or even three goals before they can consider themselves safe.
YELLOW CARD! Kurzawa is the second name in the book this evening for a mistimed challenge on Keita after good work from the Monaco striker.
Keita is beginning to cause a few problems for PSG here, and he wins the hosts another free kick - this time in a good shooting or crossing position. Can Monaco make the most of this one...?
SHOT! Falcao goes for goal on the keeper's side, but his effort is a couple of yards too high and Areola is not worried by it.
Monaco have responded really well to falling behind. They have seen a lot more of the ball, particularly in the PSG half, although the visitors can strike at any moment with that front three.
YELLOW CARD! Jemerson is the latest name in the book for a late challenge on compatriot Neymar.
Monaco really could do with scoring the next goal in this match. A second for PSG would mean that the hosts have to throw caution to the wind, and that will only make PSG's front three even more dangerous on the break. It is a finely balanced contest at the moment.
Monaco are really keeping tight to Mbappe and Neymar especially. Whenever the wingers receive the ball with their backs to goal there is always a Monaco defender in very close attendance to prevent them from turning and running at the defence.
He is often criticised for missing chances, but you cannot argue with Cavani's scoring record since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic...
Jorge tries to float a cross over to the back post where Falcao is running, but he puts too much on it and it goes out to safety. Still nothing of any real note for Areola to do so far tonight.
Lovely play from Mbappe as he darts away from Raggi before racing down the right flank and beating the Monaco defender for a second time for good measure. He then pulls the ball back to Neymar, whose attempted chip from the edge of the box is blocked.
SAVE! Lightning break from PSG as they win the ball back on the edge of their own area and within seconds are down the other end. Draxler beats Jemerson before drilling a low strike towards goal which Subasic gets a vital hand to to put it behind for a corner, despite Alves's best efforts to keep it in.
Neymar is on the other end of a crunching challenge this time, going in heavy on Glik and following through too. Glik is feeling the effects from that one, but no card for Neymar.
YELLOW CARD! Looks like I spoke too soon! As Glik's treatment drags on, the referee does indeed decide to show Neymar the yellow card.
HALF TIME: Monaco 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
The first half comes to an end at the Stade Louis II, then, and it is PSG who have the lead - although it isn't quite as comfortable as it might otherwise be.
The visitors have not completely dominated, but they have created all of the best chances and should be at least two goals to the good. It could comfortably be three or four for PSG at the interval, though.
As it is, the only goal of the game so far arrived after 19 minutes, and Monaco gave their free-scoring visitors a helping hand too.
The hosts lost the ball inside their own half and then failed to close down both Rabiot and Draxler as they combined to set up Cavani. The worst part of the defending was leaving the deadly Cavani unmarked inside the penalty area, though, and he made no mistake with a smart finish from close range.
PSG could - and should - have taken the lead after just two minutes when Neymar and Mbappe combined in devastating fashion, with the Brazilian dancing away from two defenders before threading a pinpoint pass through to Mbappe.
Mbappe beat Subasic to the ball and stayed on his feet while rounding the keeper, but with the goal gaping he could only find the side-netting against his former club.
That was one of two glorious chances PSG squandered in the opening 10 minutes, with the second falling to Draxler when he failed to turn the ball home at the close range.
Alves had played the ball through for Mbappe down the right channel, and he in turn pulled it back for Cavani inside the box. Cavani was unable to turn his flick on target, but he did steer it into the path of Draxler, who was caught on his heels a little.
KICKOFF: PSG get us back underway for the second half here at the Stade Louis II!
OFF THE POST! PSG are queuing up to score here, but after all of that Neymar is denied by the woodwork! Verratti plays a ball through for Mbappe to race on to and he unselfishly plays it across to Cavani. The Uruguayan also opts to be unselfish and give it to Neymar, but his strike crashes off the upright.
CHANCE! Another huge chance for PSG as Mbappe is again released clear through down the right this time, but he tries to chip the keeper and Subasic stays on his feet to get an important hand to the ball.
PSG are very much on top in this game and could realistically be four or five goals to the good already, but while the deficit remains one and Monaco have Falcao, it is never over.
PENALTY TO PSG!
GOAL! Monaco 0-2 PSG (Neymar, pen)
Neymar stops during his run-up and waits for Subasic to make his move before sending him the wrong way and tucking it into the bottom corner, doubling his side's advantage.
Neymar himself won the penalty after getting in behind Toure and then slowing down to make the defender clumsily bundle in to him. He played for it, but Toure fell for it and the referee had no hesitation before pointing to the spot.
Is there any way back for Monaco now? They have not really looked like scoring so far tonight and if they throw caution to wind now then it could get even worse for them. Their chances are not looking great.
PSG have been very impressive tonight, and the scary thing is that they have actually been quite wasteful despite now being the top scorers in Europe. It could be five or six instead of two here.
Again Monaco's response to going behind has been solid - they were getting cut apart in the opening stages of the second half but have seen more of the ball since conceding a second. Still no big chances to speak of, though.
Almost a chance for Monaco as Moutinho clips a lovely ball over the defence for Keita, who tries to nod it down into the path of Falcao. He puts it too close to Areola, though, who reads it well to gather.
MONACO SUB: A first change of the night for Monaco as Rony Lopes replaces Raggi.
PSG's attackers will once again steal the headlines in his match if it all stays the same, but their defensive performance has been very solid too. Falcao, who has been scoring goals for fun in Ligue 1 this season, has been very quiet.
Monaco have one of their best attacking moments of the game so far as Moutinho dinks a clever disguised pass in to Keita, but his touch lets him down and then the linesman's flag is incorrectly raised against him.
MONACO SUB: Another change for the hosts sees Rachid Ghezzal replace Tielemans.
SHOT! It all opens up for Rabiot to have a go at goal just outside the area, but his powerful drive is always rising and ends up well over the crossbar.
PSG SUB: A first change of the night for the visitors sees Yuri Berchiche come on in place of Kurzawa.
CHANCE! Yet another big chance for Mbappe to score against his former club as he is again played through down the right channel. He has Neymar unmarked in the middle, but opts to go alone and blasts his finish over the crossbar under pressure from Glik. Neymar gives him a long, long stare.
SHOT! Half a chance for Monaco as they win the ball back in a good area, but you can tell that Falcao hasn't seen much of the ball tonight. He goals for goal from range when he had other players in support, and his strike goes well over the crossbar.
CHANCE! It is turning into a return to forget on a personal level for Mbappe right now. Once again he is released by Neymar and only has the keeper to beat, but he clips his finish wide of the far post when he really should have scored.
OFF THE POST! PSG are slicing through Monaco at will at the moment. This time it is Cavani released down the right and he looks for Neymar in the middle, but Jemerson cuts the cross out. His touch takes the ball against his own post, though, and he then hacks it away.
CHANCE! This is quite incredible. It's not that PSG could be five or six up, they should be that far ahead at least here! The hosts squander another glorious chance, and this time Cavani is the guilty party as he plants a header wide having again been left completely unmarked inside the box. The sitters are racking up!
It is at the stage now that Monaco would probably take a 2-0 defeat here. They are getting prised open almost every time PSG come forward at the moment, and it is incredible that the visitors have not added to their lead.
MONACO SUB: The hosts make their third and final change as Djibril Sidibe replaces Keita.
GOAL! Monaco 1-2 PSG (Joao Moutinho)
Surely not?! Monaco are right back in this match after all of those missed chances for PSG, and it is Mbappe of all people who gets the final touch to this one.
Monaco win a free kick right on the edge of the area and Moutinho's effort is not particularly good, but Mbappe ducks when trying to avoid it and the ball loops off his back and in. It will go down as Moutinho's goal, and suddenly Monaco will be thinking about stealing a point from this match.
PSG SUBS: Unai Emery persists with the changes he was planning to make prior to that goal, with Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore replacing Cavani and Draxler.
CHANCE! Falcao has the chance to get an equaliser - his first real opening of the match. The Colombian spins into shooting space on the edge of the box but then fires his effort straight at Areola when he would have expected to do better.
Chance for PSG to restore their two-goal lead here as Mbappe wins a free kick just about within Neymar range. Will they go for goal or keep the ball instead?
SAVE! Silly question really. It is Di Maria who goes for goal, but Subasic is comfortably across to save it.
YELLOW CARD! Alves picks up a late yellow card for a rash challenge on Rony.
There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.
YELLOW CARD! Yuri flies into a challenge on Sidibe, and he goes in with two feet too, but the referee deems a yellow card appropriate despite a furious reaction from the Monaco players.
FULL TIME: Monaco 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Well, that was a lot less comfortable for PSG than it should have been, but after all of that they pick up a crucial victory which takes then nine points clear of champions Monaco after just 14 games - a commanding lead for a team unlikely to drop many points throughout the campaign.
The usual suspects of Cavani and Neymar got on the scoresheet for PSG, but they missed a string of glorious chances to wrap the game up and eventually had to hang on for the win after Moutinho's free kick deflected in off Mbappe.
Right, that is all we have time for this evening!
Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as PSG hang on to move nine points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Monaco. I will leave you with our match report, but from me it is goodbye for now!
