Monaco will be hoping to pull off a major upset when they travel to the Parc de Princess to take on Ligue One run-away leaders PSG.
Monaco’ Long-term up-and-down manager Leonardo Jardim was finally given the sack (again) at the tail end of last year with former Spain head coach Robert Moreno being brought in as his successor. Moreno has limited experience as a number one but has reportedly been given the full backing of the board. The Spaniard had a tricky start to his time in the principality with them hosting Ligue 1’s second best defence Reims in the Coupe de France but they managed to get the 2-1 win via a brace from Keita Baldé.
Despite many fans’ unrest with Jardim, he has left Moreno with a very good squad and one in fine form currently sitting 7th. They had lost just two of their eleven matches prior to Moreno’s arrival with seven wins and 18 goals scored in the process. There is definitely work to be done at the back with just four clean sheets in this time but generally it is a good team for Moreno to be taking charge of.
Moreno will have to contend with Monaco’s awful away form though as they have won just two of their nine matches on the road this season. This, coupled with their extremely poor record against PSG which hasn’t seen them beat the capital club since 2016, could mean a baptism of fire for Moreno but it’ll be interesting to see how the Spaniard copes with the challenge.
Monaco have three absentees with Danijel Subasic is suspended while Pietro Pellegri and Willem Geubbels are both injured.
Paris have started the new decade in true Parisian form with two wins and twelve goals scored along the way. They breezed past sixth-tier Linas-Montlhéry 6-0 before putting in a near identical performance against Ligue 1’s Saint-Étienne. This just shows the quality and confidence that is oozing throughout PSG’s team at the moment with even their second team putting on a first class display.
The Parc des Princes has been a fortress for PSG in recent years and that hasn’t changed under Thomas Tuchel with them winning twelve of their thirteen home matches this season in all competitions. They have scored a whopping 39 goals in this time and kept ten clean sheets which will definitely give Moreno and Monaco a shiver down their spine.
Abdou Diallo is suspended for the hosts while Presnel Kimpembe is doubtful.
PSG have 39 goals in their last 13 home games with ten clean sheets along the way. Paris have won each of their last five clashes with Monaco and are unbeaten since 2016 against the principality side. Monaco are under new manager Robert Moreno and last week his side scored twice against a Reims team with just as many conceded goals in the league as PSG so they should be a thorn in Paris’ side despite the host’s quality.
The other Ligue One fixtures on Sunday
-Saint Etienne vs Nantes @5pm
-Dijon vs Lille @7pm
