Preview: Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain – prediction, team news, lineups

French heavyweights Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain meet in the principality for the final Ligue 1 match of 2024 on Wednesday.

This match has been moved forward two weeks because the two will compete in the French Super Cup in Qatar on the 16th matchday at the start of January.

Match preview

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A good week got even better for the PSG manager Luis Enrique as they beat Lyon 3-1 at the Parc des Princes on Sunday, consigning Les Gones to just their second defeat in 15 games.

The victory was made even more satisfying by the fact that the entire rest of the top eight failed to win at the weekend, allowing PSG to progress further clearly at the top.

Playing their 16th league game two weeks before the rest will also give them the opportunity to end 2024 10 points clear at the top of Ligue 1, where they remain unbeaten this season.

PSG will also be favorites given that they are still 31 games unbeaten away from home in Ligue 1, with their last defeat coming here at the Stade Louis II in the 2022-23 season.

Fortunes haven’t been quite as good in the Champions League for Enrique, but he saw his side pick up a crucial win away to Red Bull Salzburg last midweek, winning 3-0 in Austria.

One more win will see PSG progress to the knockout round, but with Manchester City and Stuttgart in their bottom two, it is no certainty.

Enrique also has a difficult week ahead, with this trip to Monaco coming just a few days before they travel to Lens in the qualifiers for the fifth round of the Coupe de France.

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Monaco have proved difficult opponents for most teams in France and on the continent this season with just one defeat in 14 home games and have enjoyed their clash with PSG here of late.

A 0-0 draw in March came after three successive Monaco wins at the Stade Louis II over PSG – scoring nine goals in the process.

It hasn’t been the best week Adi HutterBut their men went down 3-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League and failed to take advantage of the teams around them who dropped points at the weekend.

Playing in the late slot on Saturday, Monaco had already seen Marseille and Lille draw with each other earlier in the day, but they had to settle for a goalless draw in Reims.

That means it’s as you were in the top four, with Monaco still level on points with OM and three points ahead of Lille, but they extended the gap to Lyon to five points after losing at PSG.

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

Monaco form (all competitions):

Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1 form:

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):

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Like Vanderson returns to Monaco as right-back after suspension, Jordan Tese will now miss inventory for collecting too many warnings as well.

Folarin Balogun suffered a recurrence of his shoulder injury in the last week or so and is unlikely to come but Breel Embolo was also dropped from the XI at the weekend, with Hutter switching to a five-at-the-back system.

It made for a rare start Kassoum Ouattara at wing-back, but after failing to break down Reims, the manager may return to the more familiar 4-2-3-1 that has served them well this season.

All eyes will be on PSG Desire Doue after another excellent performance from him against Lyon where he got a rare start, setting up the first goal and then winning the penalty for the second.

Marquinhos was dropped for Lucas Beraldopossibly with this game in mind, but Randal Kolo Muani was completely left out of the squad and moves on in January.

Lucas Hernandez and Senny Mayulu both returned in the last week from recent setbacks, meaning there are no injury problems for the visitors, with Presnel Kimpembes continued absence is a choice by Enrique.

Monaco possible starting line-up:
Majecki; Vanderson, Kehrer, Singo, Caio Henrique; Magassa, Camara; Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Embolus

Paris Saint-Germain’s possible starting line-up:
Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Lee, Dembele, Doue

We say: Monaco 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain

With Monaco having the chance to close the gap on PSG to four points, this is a magnificent game to end 2024 in Ligue 1.

However, it could be a tough clash, just like the meeting here back in March, where PSG are looking to close an entire calendar year undefeated away from home in the league.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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