PSG Ends the Year in Style with a 3-2 Victory Over AS Monaco

Paris Saint-Germain concluded the year with a thrilling victory against AS Monaco (2-3). After a slightly shaky start, Paris took the lead through Désiré Doué. Shortly after, Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to leave the pitch due to a facial injury that required immediate attention. At the beginning of the second half, Eliesse Ben Seghir equalized with a well-taken penalty. Breel Embolo then put Monaco ahead with a quick counter-attack.

Ousmane Dembélé leveled the score for Paris following a handling error by Philipp Köhn. Gonçalo Ramos, coming off the bench, finally secured PSG’s victory with a corner kick goal late in the match. Dembélé added another goal during stoppage time with a counter-attack finish. With one extra match played, PSG now leads Olympique de Marseille by ten points.

Player Ratings for Paris Saint-Germain

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma – Not Rated

Donnarumma made a great save from a long shot by Eliesse Ben Seghir, but was injured in the face after a successful challenge against Wilfried Singo. With a heavily bruised face, he had to be replaced by Matvey Safonov.

The Russian keeper (4/10) couldn’t do anything about the penalty goal. On the second goal, he was clearly awkward and passive, failing to read Embolo’s run and leaving the goal unprotected. He didn’t make any notable saves.

2. Achraf Hakimi – 7/10

Hakimi immediately made his presence felt with a cross-shot that ricocheted off the Monaco post. The Moroccan international was pivotal in the build-up to Doué’s goal with an intelligent run and perfect delivery.

He was also integral in the second goal, creating the equalizer despite a lack of threat. His movement earned the corner that led to PSG’s winning goal.

3. Marquinhos – 3/10

Marquinhos had a solid first half with no significant errors. Unfortunately, the Brazilian international made two glaring mistakes in the same play: a failed pass and a handball.

The PSG captain completely misjudged his positioning on the second goal and was late to react to Akliouche. His second half performance was lackluster, marked by lapses in concentration against a well-performing team. His tackle on Embolo in stoppage time could have easily resulted in another penalty…

4. William Pacho – 4/10

Pacho was responsible for an unfortunate turnover in the 8th minute, allowing Ben Seghir a shot on goal that went harmlessly wide. Physically, he held his own against smaller opponents, but could have been more assertive on the conceded penalty. He was too far from Embolo during Monaco’s second goal. His reckless challenges exposed significant limitations in his play.

5. Joao Neves – 6/10

Neves started as a left back before shifting to midfield. He was involved in the early chance for Barcola with a well-placed pass. He also set up Hakimi for the opening goal and continuously sought to create opportunities for his teammates with aggressive pressing on the ball carrier.

6. Warren Zaïre-Emery – 4/10

Zaïre-Emery started in midfield before being shifted to left back at Luis Enrique’s request. The French international produced the expected gameplay with few duels lost. However, there were many aspects where he was ineffective on the left.

“WZE” frequently returned to his right foot and attempted some runs that lacked value. Even he must not have appreciated this continuous reshuffling by Enrique.

7. Fabian Ruiz – 7/10

Ruiz rarely attempted forward plays and consistently failed in those attempts, often opting for backward passes instead. His left-footed volley that equalized at the hour mark was his only highlight, showcasing a moment of brilliance. He also assisted Dembélé for the closing goal, contributing to two goals despite an otherwise lackluster performance.

8. Vitinha – 5/10

Vitinha anchored the midfield trio with solid decision-making and minimal errors. However, he struggled defensively in the second half, failing to track Monaco’s transitions effectively. More is expected from him in terms of defensive contributions.

9. Bradley Barcola – 3/10

Barcola had an early chance in the 5th minute but failed to convert despite a good run. The French international was not prominently involved thereafter, often going unnoticed even in defensive duties. Overall, it was a disappointing performance.

10. Ousmane Dembélé – 7/10

Dembélé struggled to make an impact in the first half, with his movements failing to create significant chances. Two of his shots were denied by Majecki.

He was largely absent until the 60th minute, when he scored a poacher’s goal inside the box. His header assisted the equalizer, and he later capped off the match with a beautiful lob in the closing moments.

11. Désiré Doué – 6/10

Already active throughout the match, Doué made a significant impact by opening the scoring with a well-placed shot from the penalty spot. The Paris winger showcased moments of brilliance, creating space effectively. However, he lost some influence in the midfield during the second half.