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[monks data]
Monaco
Ligue 1
Aug 30, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
PSG logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-0)
Cavani (57', 73'), Lavezzi (83')

Preview: AS Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain

Sports Mole previews the Ligue 1 meeting between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Louis II.

Two sides with unbeaten records in Ligue 1 this season will go head to head at Stade Louis II this weekend when Paris Saint-Germain travel to AS Monaco.

The reigning French champions sit at the top of the table with wins in all three of their matches so far, while the hosts have five points from a possible nine.


AS Monaco

Monaco's Italian forward Stephan El Shaarawy celebrates after scoring the 4-0 during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg football match between AS Monaco vs BSC Young Boys on August 4, 2015© Getty Images

AS Monaco have had a busy start to the season, attempting to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League campaign, while also trying to keep pace with the reigning French champions.

Despite a 2-1 win over Valencia in the second leg of their Champions League playoff, the Spanish side did enough to knock Leonardo Jardim's men out, resulting in the club dropping into the Europa League, where they will face Anderlecht, Tottenham Hotspur and FK Qarabag.

Monaco started the league campaign well, beating Nice 2-1 in their opening fixture, but have since been held to draws by Lille and Toulouse.

This weekend's hosts had the best defence in the league last season, keeping 20 clean sheets, seven more than PSG, while conceding just 26 goals.

There could still be plenty of transfer activity to come for the principality side, who completed a deal for Manchester City striker Marcos Lopes earlier today. Anthony Martial has been linked with a move to Barcelona, while PSG completed a deal for Layvin Kurzawa this week.

The team have already brought in plenty of new faces this summer though, including loan signings Stephan El Shaarawy, Fabio Coentrao and Helder Costa.

Recent form: LWWWDD
Recent form (all competitions): WWDLDW


Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain's Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic reacts after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group F football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax Amsterdam on November 25, 2014© Getty Images

Paris Saint-Germain have been in clinical form at the start of the 2015-16 Ligue 1 season, winning their first three matches of the year without conceding a single goal.

The defending champions followed up wins of Lille and Ajaccio with a narrow 1-0 victory in their trip to Montpellier last weekend, leaving them as the only side in the French top flight with a 100% record.

PSG also won their final nine fixtures in Ligue 1 last season, leaving them with victories in their last 12 matches in the league. They have not been beaten since March, when Bordeaux secured a narrow 3-2 win over the champions.

Unlike Monaco, PSG have not had the distraction of Champions League qualification at the start of the season, going straight into the group stage. At this week's draw, which took place in Monaco, PSG were placed in a group with Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo.

Laurent Blanc has confirmed that his side has finalised a deal with Monaco's Kurzawa this week, but they missed out on a loan deal for Real Madrid's Coentrao, who joined Monaco earlier this week.

There could still be departures from Parc des Princes, as Edinson Cavani continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League, despite Arsenal insisting that they are not interested in the Uruguayan.

Recent form: WWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWWW


Team News

New Paris Saint-Germain's player Argentinian Angel Di Maria Hernandez attends the French L1 football match between Lille and PSG on August 7, 2015© Getty Images

PSG are likely to be without Javier Pastore after he picked up an ankle injury in last week's win over Montpellier, exiting early in the 1-0 victory.

Summer signing Angel di Maria and last season's top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic are both fit enough to be included in the squad though, having recovered from hamstring and knee injuries respectively.

Layvin Kurzawa was unable to play the second leg of Monaco's tie against Valencia with an ankle injury, although his move to PSG was announced later that evening, so he is likely to miss an immediate return to Stade Louis II.

Monaco's only injury concern is Joao Moutinho, as the midfielder is still sidelined after injuring his ankle in their second match of the campaign, which will keep him out until the end of September.

AS Monaco possible starting lineup:
Subasic, Wallace, Raggi, Toullalan, Toure, Bahlouli, Lemar, Bakayoko, Traore, El Shaarawy, Carrillo

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Trapp, Silva, Maxwell, Aurier, Luiz, Motta, Matuidi, Di Maria, Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic, Cavani


Head To Head

The two sides last met in the Coupe de France in March, where Paris Saint-Germain came away with a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from David Luiz and Edinson Cavani.

That result ended a run of seven straight draws between the two sides, dating back to 2010, which included both of last season's league meetings between the two clubs.

Matches between the two sides are often closely contested, with only two of their 41 previous meetings resulting in a greater than two-goal winning margin.

Monaco have beaten PSG 17 times previously, while the current champions have just 10 wins against this weekend's opponents, as well as 14 draws.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: AS Monaco 1-2 Paris Saint Germain

Monaco come into this match fresh from the disappointment of their exit from the Champions League, while Paris Saint-Germain have had a week of rest. Although matches between these two sides have yielded a lot of draws in recent years, the possibility of the return of Ibrahimovic and Di Maria should give the visitors the edge.



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Layvin Kurzawa of AS Monaco (R) celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round 1st leg match between BSC Young Boys and AS Monaco at Stade de Suisse on July 28, 2015
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG108202982126
2Marseille1062223121120
3MonacoMonaco10622157820
4Lille10532169718
5Nice104421991016
6Lyon104331715215
7Lens1035297214
8Reims104241615114
9StrasbourgStrasbourg103431919013
10Auxerre104151718-113
11Brest104151316-313
12Toulouse103341111012
13Rennes103251316-311
14NantesNantes102441214-210
15Angers102441116-510
16Saint-EtienneSt Etienne103161024-1410
17Le HavreLe Havre10307820-129
18Montpellier HSCMontpellier10118830-224


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