Paris Saint-Germain struck an authoritative blow in Ligue 1 with a 4-2 win over Monaco at the Stade Louis II, breaking a run of poor results in the Principality since 2020. Luis Enrique's men not only reaffirmed their status as undisputed leaders, but also increased their lead at the top of the table to 10 points.
The match was full of emotions, with tense moments, great goals and an outstanding performance by Ousmane Dembélé, who scored a brace to secure the victory.
An Intense Match From The Start
PSG arrived at the Louis II determined to put their recent stumbles at this stadium behind them. From the outset, the Parisian team showed its attacking intent, with Barcola generating the first big chance that Mönchengladbach goalkeeper Köhn managed to stop. However, the first blow came in the 24th minute, when Désiré Doué opened the scoring after a precise pass from Hakimi.
The match came to a head with a clash between Wilfried Singo and Gianluigi Donnarumma, which left the Italian goalkeeper bloodied and out of the game. This incident marked a turning point, as PSG kept their cool and were able to take advantage of Monaco's bewilderment to dominate the rest of the first half.
The start of the second half was completely different. Monaco came back with determination and equalized with a penalty from Eliesse Ben Seghir. Shortly after, Breel Embolo surprised the Parisian defense and scored to make it 2-1, putting PSG in trouble.
Luis Enrique had no time to react from the bench when Ousmane Dembélé appeared to level the score after a rebound from a Fabián Ruiz shot. With the score at 2-2, the match became a real back-and-forth affair, with both teams looking for the goal that would give them the lead.
It was then that Gonçalo Ramos, who had just entered the field, took advantage of a corner to head in the 83rd minute to make it 3-2. This goal demoralized Monaco, who tried desperately to equalize, but their efforts were in vain.
In stoppage time, Dembélé sealed his performance with a goal full of class, stinging the ball over the goalkeeper to seal the final 4-2.
All the champions in the history of the #CopaIntercontinental 🏆🌎.
They're wearing it in the 🧬! #RealMadrid clinches its fourth title and is crowned as the tournament's top winner. 👑 pic.twitter.com/voQXGGGGz0DW
- Betcris (@Betcris) December 19, 2024
A Consolidated Leader In Ligue 1
With this win, PSG closed the year undefeated and with a 10-point lead over their closest pursuers. The victory not only allowed them to break the losing streak at the Stade Louis II, but also sent a clear message to the rest of the teams: they are ready to continue to dominate the French league.
Monaco, meanwhile, remain in third place in the table, level on points with second-placed Marseille, who have a game in hand. Despite their efforts and taking an early lead in the second half, the Principality side could not maintain their intensity and ended up conceding to a PSG side that showed greater experience and depth in their squad.
PSG can now approach the second half of the season with the confidence of having closed the year in emphatic fashion. For Monaco, the lesson is clear: if they want to compete with the big boys, they need to stay focused at key moments and take their chances when they present themselves.
This win not only reaffirms PSG's dominance in Ligue 1, but also highlights the importance of players like Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos, who made the difference in a match that will surely be remembered as one of the best of this season.
