PSG suffer home defeat to Monaco, worst start since 2007

PSG conceded a home defeat to AS Monaco (1-2) on Friday evening at Parc des Princes, in the club’s first home match of the Ligue 1 season. After four games without a win — two defeats and two draws — the Paris club is experiencing its worst start in sixteen years.

The evening had started well enough. The presentation of summer signings had warmed the atmosphere before kick-off, and Marquinhos had opened the scoring with a header in the 31st minute. But PSG collapsed after the interval. Nazinho first equalized, then Stanis Idumbo finished off Matvey Safonov with a shot under the bar in the 72nd minute to secure three points for Monaco.

“Football is sometimes inexplicable,” Luis Enrique reacted in his post-match press conference. “I’m happy with what I saw. It’s the start of the season. We’re not at our level. But I saw many positive things. For me, it’s clear we deserve the win. The xG are in our favor. But football is like that, it’s a wonderful sport.”

This winless record in the league harks back to the 2007-2008 season under Paul Le Guen, when Paris had to wait until matchday six and an away trip to Le Mans to secure their first victory. That year, the club came close to relegation, only saving themselves on the final day.

The fixture list offers Luis Enrique no respite. PSG enter the Ligue des Champions on Wednesday against Slovan Bratislava, before two consecutive away matches in Ligue 1 at Brest and then Olympique de Marseille. A tense September ahead for a squad that must rediscover its bearings urgently.