MX23RW : Wednesday, March 18 20:06:18| >> :120:35636:35636:
Jan 15, 2020 at 8pm UK at Stade Louis II (Monaco)
Attendance: 11,214
MonacoMonaco
1-4
PSGParis Saint-Germain
Bakayoko (87')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Mbappe (24', 91'), Neymar (45' pen.), Sarabia (72')

PSG boss Thomas Tuchel expecting tough test from Monaco

PSG boss Thomas Tuchel expecting tough test from Monaco
© Reuters
The pair go head-to-head on Sunday night.

Thomas Tuchel has warned Paris St Germain to expect a tough test against Monaco as they return to Ligue 1 duty on Sunday.

The runaway domestic leaders drew 2-2 with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday after coming from two down in a wild final 10 minutes, and return to league action to be greeted by the 2017 champions.

Monaco are nowhere near that vintage, lying 13th, while PSG have won two titles since and lead by five points even after second-placed Marseille's win on Friday night.

But Tuchel told psg.fr: "(Monaco) are very strong, especially in attack. They create a lot of chances and have a lot of quality up front and in midfield.

"We will have to be attentive and defend well to be able to create chances. We need to play in their half and not lose the ball stupidly."

There is unlikely to be any repeat of Tuchel's caution-to-the-wind formation from midweek, when he threw four men up front to inspire his side's dramatic late comeback in Madrid.

"It makes things more difficult for the two midfielders," he admitted.

"I don't think it is a stable enough system. You need three midfielders to stabilise it and stay solid defensively.

"I chose the system with four in the second period in Madrid because we needed a bit of a crazy match to come back. We did not have enough freedom in attack and we had to change something and take more risks.

"We were happy with the draw but we lacked equilibrium, certainly too much at this level."

PSG will be without Marco Verratti while fellow midfielder Ander Herrera is a doubt for the game. Monaco have forward Islam Slimani suspended.

Leonardo Jardim
Leonardo Jardim admits his team occupy 'a different reality' to PSG (Martin Rickett/PA)

Coach Leonardo Jardim told Monaco's official website: "Football is a sport of passion, nothing is won or lost in advance.

"The big teams can beat the little teams, but the little teams can also beat the big. We have an opponent who are super-favourites and we will try to defy that.

"Paris reinforce every year. They remain the best team in France and one of the biggest in Europe.

"Our project is completely different, Paris is another reality."

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rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Paris Saint-GermainPSG27222375245168
2Marseille28168441291256
3Rennes28155838241450
4Lille2815493527849
5Reims28101172621541
6Nice2811894138341
7Lyon281171042271540
8Montpellier HSCMontpellier28117103534140
9MonacoMonaco28117104444040
10Angers28116112833-539
11StrasbourgStrasbourg27115113232038
12Bordeaux2891094034637
13NantesNantes28114132831-337
14Brest28810103437-334
15Metz28810102735-834
16Dijon2879122737-1030
17Saint-EtienneSt Etienne2886142945-1630
18Nimes2876152944-1527
19AmiensAmiens28411133150-1923
20Toulouse2834212258-3613

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