Facing Paris FC in another top-of-the-table clash on Matchday 9 of Ligue 1 McDonald’s, AS Monaco were outplayed and eventually beaten, despite Folarin Balogun scoring his first goal of the season (3-1). Match report ✍️

The build-up 📅

A week on from their draw against Lille (1-1), les Rouge et Blanc faced another tough test away to sixth-placed Paris FC. Looking to make amends for their 4-1 defeat last April, the Monégasques knew they would need a complete performance: PFC had lost just once in their previous ten home games and had been behind for only 29 minutes this season.

They are very composed in the final third, which makes them a very dangerous team. They can press high or sit deeper. That is an important aspect of their game, because they can adapt to their opponents. They are also very strong in possession, which makes them difficult to play against.

Filipe Luís, on Paris FC

The line-up 👥

For the opening game of Matchday 9 in Ligue 1, head coach Filipe Luís opted for a 4-4-2 formation, with Paris Brunner and Matthis Abline leading the line. Edan Diop and Aleksandr Golovin occupied the wings, with Denis Zakaria and Lamine Camara in central midfield. At the back, Eric Dier returned from injury to partner Sadibou Sané in the heart of the defence, flanked by Vanderson and Flávio Nazinho.

How it unfolded 🎞️

In front of more than 1,000 AS Monaco supporters in the away end, the hosts made the brighter start, with Pablo Pagis firing narrowly over from distance (5’) before Samir Chergui sent a header wide (13’). Pressing aggressively, they then created two excellent chances: Pierre Lees-Melou’s curling effort struck the post (13’), before Sadibou Sané turned Moses Simon’s cross onto the crossbar (19’).

A difficult end to the first half 😢

Having survived those two chances, les Rouge et Blanc began to get further up the pitch, and Kevin Trapp just managed to tip Vanderson’s cross away from Paris Brunner (26’). However, PFC continued to look the more dangerous side, with Lukáš Hrádecký producing a magnificent save to deny Lassine Sinayoko from close range (28’). Unfortunately, the Monaco goalkeeper could do nothing a few minutes later when the Malian striker turned the ball home from the penalty spot (1-0, 38’).

A change of formation at half-time 🔄

After falling behind, the Monégasques tried to respond through Paris Brunner, whose deflected effort went out for a corner (41’). However, they were caught out again by a long ball to Lassine Sinayoko, who made it 2-0 (44’). It was a difficult end to the first half for Filipe Luís’s men, prompting the Brazilian coach to switch to a 3-4-3 at the break, bringing on Christian Mawissa and Folarin Balogun (46’), followed by Takumi Minamino (55’). They still had to stay alert, however, as Ilan Kebbal’s effort narrowly missed the post (57’).

Folarin Balogun gets off the mark ⚽

The Brazilian coach then went all out, introducing another attacking player in Mathys Detourbet (64’). The change paid off as the American striker got on the end of a Vanderson cross to pull one back and score his first goal of the season (2-1, 66’). Full of energy, he threatened again moments later with a left-footed effort, but Kevin Trapp was equal to it (72’). Unfortunately, PFC struck for a third time, with Pablo Pagis scoring from close range (3-1, 74’).

Two more chances to respond before the international break 🤞

Two goals down, les Rouge et Blanc refused to give up, but were unable to create any real danger in front of Kevin Trapp’s goal, despite an effort from Vandi that flew over the bar (90+4’). They eventually fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Stade Jean-Bouin against Paris FC. They will now look to bounce back in the Conference League against Nordsjælland this Thursday (9 pm), before travelling to Le Mans on Sunday (5.15 pm), ahead of the season’s second international break.

Highlights 🎥

  1. 5’: Pagis fires narrowly over from distance
  2. 10’: Chergui’s header from a corner goes wide
  3. 13’: Lees-Melou’s curling effort strikes the post
  4. 19’: Sané turns Simon’s cross onto the crossbar
  5. 26’: Trapp tips Vanderson’s cross away just before Brunner can reach it
  6. 28’: A stunning save from Hrádecký to deny Sinayoko from close range
  7. 38’: Sinayoko turns Lopez’s cross home to open the scoring (1-0)
  8. 41’: Brunner’s effort is deflected behind for a corner by a Paris defender
  9. 43’: Hrádecký is alert at his near post to keep out Pagis’s effort
  10. 44’: Sinayoko latches onto a long ball and fires home from the edge of the box (2-0)
  11. 57’: Kebbal’s effort goes narrowly wide of the Monaco post
  12. 66’: Balogun gets on the end of Vanderson’s cross to pull one back (2-1)
  13. 72’: Balogun turns and tests Trapp with a left-footed shot
  14. 74’: Pagis beats Hrádecký with a shot at the near post (3-1)

🗓️ Match details

Sunday 1 November 2026 (5.15 pm) – Stade Jean-Bouin

Ligue 1 McDonald’s – Matchday 9: Paris FC 3-1 AS Monaco

Half-time: 2-0

Goals: Sinayoko (38’, 44’), Pagis (74’) for Paris FC; Balogun (66’) for AS Monaco

Yellow cards: Traoré (85’), Pagis (88’) for Paris FC; Vanderson (67’), Camara (88’) for AS Monaco

Paris FC: Trapp – Traoré (Mbemba, 89’), Coppola, Chergui (Mbow, 46’), Otavio – Lees-Melou ©, Lopez – Kebbal (Zabi, 73’), Pagis, Simon (Matondo, 73’) – Sinayoko (Sissoko, 79’)

Substitutes: Nkambadio, De Smet, Mbemba, Mbow, Marchetti, Matondo, Zabi, Krasso, Sissoko

Head coach: Liam Rosenior

AS Monaco: Hrádecký – Vanderson, Sané (Teze, 75’), Dier, Nazinho (Detourbet, 64’) – Diop (Mawissa, 46’), Zakaria © (Minamino, 55’), Camara, Golovin – Abline, Brunner (Balogun, 46’)

Substitutes: Köhn, Mawissa, Teze, Cabral, Coulibaly, Minamino, Touré, Balogun, Detourbet

Head coach: Filipe Luís

See also