Paris Saint-Germain vs. Monaco: Winners and Losers from Ligue 1 Game

Just when Paris Saint-Germain thought they had turned a corner with the UEFA Champions League victory over Barcelona on Tuesday, AS Monaco brought them crashing back to earth with a 1-1 home draw in Ligue 1. Les Monegasques escaped from the Parc des Princes with a deserved point thanks to Anthony Martial’s late leveller, which cancelled out Lucas Moura’s opener.

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8 - PSG have lost eight points after having scored the opening goal, more than any other team in Ligue 1 this season. Distractive.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 5, 2014"

The result means that bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille are now seven points clear of Laurent Blanc’s men, and Les Parisiens have now drawn six of their nine games in Le Championnat. Had his team not beaten Barcelona, the chances are that Le President’s job would have been in danger. However, the victory over the Spaniards should be enough to keep him safe.

Blanc refused to pull any punches after the match, when he spoke to the press (h/t Ligue1.com), saying he hopes it is the last time.

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My team were so scared of conceding a goal that they ended up conceding a goal. We didn't do what it took to maintain our lead; in the final two or three minutes you need to be more vigilant and more professional in terms of maintaining possession. It's a scenario that unfortunately keeps repeating itself, and I hope this was the last time.

My team were very tired in the last ten minutes, and unintentionally we dropped back, even though we mustn't forget that Monaco had a good second half. We weren't brilliant tonight, but could we really be after the huge amount of energy we expended on Tuesday (in the 3-2 Champions League win over Barcelona)?

Still, it's a shame to be dropping the number of points we have been dropping lately. Marseille deserve to be on top; they're collecting a huge number of points and they deserve them but they're only playing once a week. But we're only nine weeks into the season; we're working hard and we want points, and that's the most important thing for us.

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Here are some winners and losers from PSG and Monaco’s 1-1 draw.

Winner: Javier Pastore, Who Is a Player Reborn

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What a start to the season it has been for Javier Pastore. The Argentinian playmaker has been thoroughly reinvigorated by the new campaign and his regular deployment in his preferred role in the middle. Regularly placed behind the front two of Edinson Cavani and Lucas of late, El Flaco has become the creative hub of the team in the absence of star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

After a sublime display against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Pastore was by far PSG’s best player against Monaco. The 25-year-old constantly looked dangerous and displayed a number of tricks and flicks that demonstrated his soaring confidence at present. His involvement in the buildup played an important role in PSG's opening goal.

Winner: The Tactically Excellent Leonardo Jardim

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Prior to kick-off, many at the Parc des Princes were questioning Leonardo Jardim’s decision to play without a recognised striker. However, by half-time, it was already clear that the Portuguese tactician’s choice was tactically spot on and was causing PSG plenty of problems defensively.

Jardim chose to put pressure on veteran central defender Zoumana Camara at the back with pace, and although the 35-year-old did not turn out to be a liability, the Monaco approach unsettled the hosts and almost paid off. PSG eventually held firm, but Yannick Ferreira Carrasco was unlucky to be denied by the woodwork, and Gregory van der Wiel made an excellent clearance off the line in the second half.

Winner: Steady Veteran Ricardo Carvalho

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Since his compatriot Jardim took over at Monaco, Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho has been absolutely sensational at the back for Les Monegasques. In the wake of his surprise recall to the national team, the 36-year-old was immense against PSG and almost single-handedly kept the hosts out at times.

There was little the Monaco No. 6 could do about the goal, with Fabinho guilty of going completely missing. Despite the principality outfit conceding once, they were excellent at the back, and no player deserves higher praise than Carvalho.

Winner: PSG’s Influential Substitute Jean-Christophe Bahebeck

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Brought on at the start of the second half, Jean-Christophe Bahebeck made a massive contribution to the match for PSG. With the hosts looking bereft of a cutting edge going forward, Blanc’s men were able to finally take the lead through Lucas after Bahebeck’s low cross to the back post found the Brazilian.

For the third Ligue 1 match in succession, the 21-year-old youth academy product has made a telling contribution. It is Bahebeck’s second assist to go with one goal in his last three appearances, an impressive tally for a player who could barely get a look in a few weeks ago.

Loser: The Unrecognisable Edinson Cavani

Thibault Camus/Associated Press

It was another frustrating night for Cavani, who is enduring a dry spell at present. Now four games without a goal in all competitions, the international break has come at a good moment for the Uruguayan.

El Matador has not been called up for his country’s friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Oman, so he must use the time constructively to recover physically and mentally so that he can rediscover his best form once the break ends.

Cavani had few chances on Sunday, but he often found himself in the wrong positions and looked impatient when on the ball. The 27-year-old has suffered in the absence of strike partner Ibrahimovic, even if the Swede’s injury was expected to have the opposite impact on PSG’s No. 9.

The most worrying thing for Les Parisiens is that he looks so devoid of confidence that he does not even want to receive the ball at present.

Loser: Laurent Blanc Who Will Already Be Back Under Pressure

David Vincent/Associated Press

Another loser on the night was PSG coach Blanc. No sooner had he exited one crisis period with the win over Barcelona, his team launch themselves into another with their sixth defeat of the Ligue 1 season. The pressure is once again rising over Blanc.

There was not much that Blanc did wrong on the night, electing to go with the same starting XI that beat Barca. However, the same combinations did not work as well against Monaco. Le President's decision to substitute star man Javier Pastore with 14 minutes remaining also bemused many.