Lionel Messi-less PSG slump to 3-0 defeat at Monaco in Ligue 1 clash

With Lionel Messi ruled out by a bout of flu, PSG showed close to nothing at the Louis II stadium 11 days after being knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Real Madrid who scored three goals in 17 minutes. 

Paris St Germain produced a woeful performance as they lost 3-0 at Monaco in Ligue 1 on Sunday (March 20), a result that will put coach Mauricio Pochettino under more pressure less than two weeks after their Champions League exit. PSG, on 65 points from 29 games, still lead second-placed Olympique de Marseille by 12 points after OM beat Nice 2-1 courtesy of an Arkadiusz Milik penalty on the stroke of halftime and a late goal by Cedric Bakambu. 

Nice moved down from third to fourth on 50 points, two behind Stade Rennais who demolished strugglers Metz 6-1 with a Serhou Guirassy hat-trick. With Lionel Messi ruled out by a bout of flu, PSG showed close to nothing at the Louis II stadium 11 days after being knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Real Madrid who scored three goals in 17 minutes. 

Monaco climbed to seventh on 44 points. “They played well, congratulations to them. They`re a good team, a great club,” PSG striker Kylian Mbappe said. “The goal is to get the 10th French title. We can win 8-0, 9-0, people will talk about the Champions League. Whatever happens we must respect ourselves, if we have a little bit of self-esteem. We also need to respect the fans.” 

The usually soft-spoken Pochettino also had strong words. “The way we lost is not acceptable at this level of competition. We can’t start a game the way we started this one,” said the Argentine who took over midway through last season. 

“We need to get over the Champions league exit; hopefully the international break will help put it behind us.”