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Monaco v PSG preview
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has played down the meaning of individual remarks after his team’s 3-1 defeat at Rennes on Friday, but talismanic striker Ousmane Dembele did not hold back with a Champions League knockout play-off trip to Monaco next for his side.
“We need to show more desire,” Dembele told Ligue 1+ (via L’Equipe), noting that PSG lost 1-0 at Monaco in the league on November 29.
“We have to play for Paris Saint-Germain to win matches because, if we play alone on the pitch, it won’t work and we won’t win the titles we want.
“Last season, we put the club first before thinking about ourselves. We need to rediscover that… we’re in the second half of the season, and Paris Saint-Germain should come first, not individual players.”
Monaco had lost three and won five of their previous 10 matches before a 0-0 draw at Nice on February 8 and a 3-1 home win over Nantes on Friday, racing three goals ahead after 30 minutes through two Simon Adingra goals and one by Denis Zakaria.
At eighth in the top flight, Monaco are 20 points behind PSG and finished four points and 10 places below them in the league phase of the Champions League.
“We have to believe, otherwise there’s no point in playing,” said head coach Sebastien Pocognoli. “I think the players are eager to play a great game and give themselves a chance for the return leg.”
Midfielder Zakaria says the hosts will have to be “great”. “If we’re not at 100% and we don’t play a perfect game, it will be tough for us,” he warned.
The return match is on February 25 (20:00 GMT). The winners of the tie will meet Barcelona or Chelsea in the last 16 in March.
Monaco v PSG team news
Midfielders Maghnes Akliouche (hip) and Lamine Camara (ankle) are injury doubts for Monaco, as is forward Ansu Fati (quad).
Camara, winger Aleksandr Golovin and defender Thilo Kehrer will be suspended for the return match if they are booked.
Midfielders Fabian Ruiz (knee) and Senny Mayulu (calf) and attacker Quentin Ndjantou (hamstring) are sidelined for PSG.
Dembele is a doubt with a muscular issue and Nuno Mendes must avoid a caution if the left-back is to be available for the second leg.
Monaco v PSG predicted line ups
Monaco starting XI: Philipp Kohn, Vanderson, Jordan Teze, Thilo Kehrer, Caio Henrique, Denis Zakaria, Mamadou Coulibaly, Ansu Fati, Aleksandr Golovin, Simon Adingra, Folarin Balogun
PSG starting XI: Matvei Safonov, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Warren Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
How to watch Monaco v PSG: TV channel, live online stream
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 12:00 PT). Live TV coverage in the UK is on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and the Discovery Plus app.
TNT Sports costs £29.99 a month through Discovery Plus, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a vast range of devices including smart TVs and gaming consoles.
Monaco v PSG stats
This is the first European meeting between Monaco and Paris but both sides have been in all-French ties: Monaco were eliminated by Marseille in the 1998/99 UEFA Cup third round, while Paris beat Brest 10-0 on aggregate at this stage last season
Monaco have lost their last five two-legged European ties
They have lost one of their last seven Champions League matches (W2 D4) and kept four clean sheets in their previous six
One of their last six matches in all competitions has ended in defeat, although three of those games have finished 0-0
Benfica eliminated Monaco at this stage last season
Kehrer played 128 times across four seasons with PSG, including 20 in the Champions League.
Takumi Minamino’s second-half goal gave Monaco that win against Paris this season, which ended a run of three straight defeats – and five games without a win (D1 L4) – in the fixtures
PSG have won six of their last seven two-legged ties in the Champions League and have lost two of their last 12 matches overall in Europe (W7 D3)
They are in the Champions League knockout phase for the 14th season running
The reigning European champions have won four of their last nine matches in all competitions over 90 minutes
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