December title deciders are a rarity, but Thursday’s clash between Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain had all the makings of one. PSG traveled to the Stade Louis II seeking to extend their lead at the Ligue 1 summit to an imposing 10 points. Monaco meanwhile aimed to close the gap and reignite the title race. What unfolded was a tumultuous, incident-packed encounter that will live long in the memory.
Subdued Atmosphere Masks High Stakes
An eerie silence greeted the players as Monaco’s ultras boycotted the start of this potential title decider, protesting the rescheduling of the fixture to accommodate PSG’s commitments in the Trophée des Champions. The importance of the occasion was undeniable though, with Monaco manager Adi Hütter admitting pre-match that their title hopes would be “difficult” if they lost.
Early PSG Dominance
PSG wasted no time asserting their authority, Achraf Hakimi striking the post inside five minutes. Wave after wave of attacks followed, with Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué both testing Monaco keeper Philipp Köhn. The champions’ pressure paid off on 27 minutes when Hakimi teed up Doué to sweep home his first Ligue 1 goal.
Donnarumma’s Gruesome Injury
As half-time approached, a sickening clash left PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s face bloodied and bruised. Racing through on goal, Monaco’s Wilfried Singo caught Donnarumma flush in the face with his boot. Incredibly, referee François Letexier only deemed it a yellow card offense.
We all saw his face. I don’t know how it isn’t a red card. Tonight, Donnarumma wasn’t protected.
– Gonçalo Ramos
Singo later apologized on social media after being subjected to racial abuse online, which Monaco firmly condemned.
Monaco’s Second Half Fightback
Staring down the barrel at 0-1, Monaco emerged from the break transformed. Maghnes Akliouche’s burst drew a handball from Marquinhos, allowing Eliesse Ben Seghir to level from the spot. The hosts then took a shock lead on the hour mark, Akliouche again the creator for Breel Embolo to turn home at the near post.
Dembélé And Ramos Settle Matters
Monaco’s advantage lasted a mere seven minutes before Ousmane Dembélé pounced to equalize. Fellow substitute Gonçalo Ramos then emphatically headed PSG back in front from a corner. Dembélé would add gloss to the scoreline late on, chipping Köhn for his second and PSG’s fourth.
The Ligue 1 [title race] is still very open. Five days ago, we only had a five-point lead.
– Luis Enrique
PSG boss Luis Enrique remained cautious post-match, but the reality is his side now hold a commanding 10 point lead. Injuries to key players like Folarin Balogun and Denis Zakaria had derailed Monaco following a bright start. Nearest challengers Marseille have also faltered, with just two home wins all season.
Is The Title Race Over?
- PSG now unbeaten in 32 away Ligue 1 games
- 10 point lead at halfway point
- Champions have beaten all of top five
Donnarumma’s brutalized face will endure as the indelible image of this heavyweight clash. But the upshot of PSG’s gutsy fightback may be that, despite the unpredictable twists and turns, they took a giant stride towards another title. In December, the championship seemed to be decided.
