Zlatan Ibrahimovic Suspension: A Blessing in Disguise for PSG vs. AS Monaco

After two very positive performances from Ligue 1’s representatives in the Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain travel to the French Riviera for this weekend’s huge match against AS Monaco without their top scorer and occasional talisman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swedish striker, with 11 Ligue 1 goals to his name this season, will miss both the league game and the mid-week Coupe de France meeting after he was handed a two-match ban for his dangerously high, raking lunge against Saint-Etienne’s Romain Hamouma.

Originally given a yellow card at the time, it was already set that he would miss one game, but the Ligue de Football Professionnel decided that it merited an extra game, with a further game on a suspended sentence.

With or without the 33-year-old striker, it was always going to be a tough match for the side chasing their third consecutive Ligue 1 title. Monaco has only conceded three goals in 12 league games, and on Wednesday night they pulled off one of their best results in recent history.

However, for Laurent Blanc, the chance to pick an XI without Ibrahimovic could be a blessing in disguise as PSG try to win two crucial games in two competitions. It is also a chance to show that they are far from a one-man team and that there is a future beyond Zlatan.

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It will be interesting to see how Leandro Jardim’s side react after their 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. It was a perfectly executed away performance, and it is unlikely that their tactics will change, regardless of the fact they will be the home side on Sunday.

Monaco will set up to defend in numbers and look to hit on the break, exactly what they did against Arsenal. It's what they have built their season around and the reason that they have climbed into fourth place and conceded only three goals in 12 games.

When Ibrahimovic was out for six league games with a heel injury, Blanc moved away from the 4-3-3 to a narrower 4-3-1-2, and they not only scored 15 times in that run, but conceded only four.

Playing 4-3-3 with two players out wide means that the midfielders have to support the attack from deep, with a player like Blaise Matuidi making his trademark runs from the left of the three.

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If Javier Pastore is allowed to play as the No. 10 with Edinson Cavani and either Ezequiel Lavezzi or Jean-Christophe Bahebeck as his partners, it would mean the midfield can concentrate more on winning the battle against Monaco’s midfield, rather than trying to force its way through a stubborn defence.

There would be more emphasis on the full-backs providing the width and leaving either David Luiz, Marco Verratti or Adrien Rabiot to drop back and create a back three with Thiago Silva and Marquinhos. With Monaco looking to break on the counter, having a lines of three and then two to overcome would stifle the Monaco attack more than just four defensive players through the centre.

Ibrahimovic may have scored 11 goals this season, but he has been far from crucial, with PSG looking to catch Lyon at the top of Ligue 1. Take away his opening day brace against Stade de Reims and the bizarre performance from Saint-Etienne at the Parc des Princes and his goal tally is down to six in 15 games, with only one goal from open play in his last nine matches.

Without the Swede in the starting lineup, PSG can revert back to their more free-flowing style that was starting to look very dangerous back in October. Changing the formation slightly will also make PSG harder to break down on the counter, and against Monaco, that could be crucial.

PSG must win on Sunday. Should they suffer a defeat against Monaco, they will not only struggle to catch Lyon, but may have to look over their shoulder at a resurgent Monaco coming up behind them.