PSG Spurn Chance to Top Ligue 1 with Wasted Opportunities in Monaco Draw

Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 0-0 draw by a resolute AS Monaco side at Stade Louis II on Sunday. In failing to find the back of the net in the principality, Laurent Blanc’s men passed up a golden chance to overtake Olympique Lyonnais at the Ligue 1 summit.

It is not the first time PSG have had the chance to make top spot in Le Championnat their own, nor is it the first occasion they have failed to take such an opportunity. In fact, the defending French champions are yet to even lead the top flight at the end of a round of fixtures this season.

However, it could be the last time they are presented with such a chance.

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Olympique de Marseille’s incredible collapse from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 at home to Stade Malherbe Caen on Friday followed by Lyon’s surprise 2-1 defeat away at Lille OSC meant that all Les Parisiens needed to do was eke out a victory on the French Riviera.

The likelihood of being presented with a similar opportunity to seize the top spot anytime soon is by no means favourable.

It was a familiar story for PSG in Monaco; the capital outfit created plenty of chances but found themselves unable to make them count. Ezequiel Lavezzi, Edinson Cavani and Javier Pastore all had excellent chances to penetrate a normally rock-solid Monegasque back line, yet all three were unable to take their opportunities.

Danijel Subasic made one superb save to deny the Uruguayan, while El Matador failed to hit the target on the other occasion. However, the Argentine pair arguably wasted the two best openings, and El Pocho was particularly guilty of more than one glaring miss.

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Blanc admitted to PSG.fr after the match that he is looking for more from his attacking players.

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We played quite well. But in football, you have to take your chances to score goals. We are working on it, but I hope we continue to create as many chances in the future. I can see that of the top three teams, only Paris picked up a point this weekend. Given the way we played, a point isn't enough, but the work we did this week will hold us in good stead in the future.

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Deprived of the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, PSG lacked the clinical ability that even the Swede has failed to provide at times so far this season.

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The Ligue 1 titleholders can feel satisfied—pleased even—by the number of chances they created against a defence that has now only conceded one goal in 11 league games. However, those opportunities mean nothing if they are not taken, and the bottom line for PSG is that they should be taking those openings with the expensively assembled talent they boast up top.

As for Monaco, they created little and seemed content to play for a draw from the off.

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Jardim’s men made the occasional forage forward but barely kept PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu—and a larger than usual sprinkling of fans at Stade Louis II—awake. Les Monegasques were dominated in terms of possession and shots on goal but appeared content to just wait for opportunities to counter-attack that never came.

It is tedious and unattractive to watch, but it cannot be argued that Jardim’s defence-first tactics are not effective. For the second season in a row, the principality outfit have avoided defeat against PSG in the league.

Considering the amount of energy expended in beating Arsenal 3-1 in their UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg tie away from home, it was also probably the best result the Portuguese tactician and his players were hoping for.

This was Les Parisiens’ fourth game this season in which they have failed to find the back of the net, and this is something that only happened twice last campaign. If Blanc’s men want to win their third consecutive Ligue 1 crown, then they must do better in front of goal.

However, there is no guarantee that taking their chances between now and the end of the season will be enough. Lyon will view this goalless draw as a major let off, and it could galvanise them to finish the campaign strongly.