Monaco-PSG: for once, Paris must not return empty-handed
Everything will have to be evacuated. Bis. After the cold shower at the Bernabeu, the whistles of the Parc des Princes against Bordeaux, this time it will be a question of ignoring the coldness of Louis II to convince oneself, as if the scene was being played out in front of a green TV set background, that this Monaco-PSG of the 29th day is a summit, an essential requiring the unfailing involvement of all the players as well as the greatest attention of the observers. The truth is that these two today do not have much else to put in their mouths to spice up their very sad daily life at the end of the season.
It is not a question of tarnishing the French Championship and this Ligue 1 which, both in the race for Europe and in that of the bottom of the table, knows more and more how to maintain suspense and passions. But it is clear that the confrontation bears the features of a very bland reward, almost compensatory, for these two tricolor football giants having as a last point in common only a continental destiny with deceptive accents.
Monaco certainly held out two more laps than Paris in the Coupe de France before being knocked out by Nantes in the semi-finals. But it only took eight days to follow in the footsteps of PSG on the European scene, his adventure having ended Thursday evening in front of Braga after a new setback.
Without Messi or Di Maria
That says a lot about this duel of wounded animals that Monegasques and Parisians will nevertheless have to make sparkle this Sunday at 1 p.m. to give change, appease anger and keep the thread of this far too disjointed exercise. Despite his 15-point lead over Marseille, the Parisian leader cannot allow himself to relax so as not to further spoil the flavor of the 10th title of Champion of France which should allow him to equal the record of Saint-Étienne in end of season.
Because if this ASM, planted in the soft belly (9th), now reveals an almost harmless profile (6 goals and a victory in the last 8 games), Paris is not one of the most returned in recent weeks on the move either since they have won just one of their last six Ligue 1 games away from home base.
Beyond the context, he will also have to know how to adapt to the absences of Leo Messi and Angel Di Maria, respectively the best passers of the season in the league (10) and in history in all competitions (109). Fortunately, Paris still has Kylian Mbappé in its ranks. The only one not to have been splashed by the sinking and to allow Paris to keep above water.