Paris Saint-Germain lead AS Monaco 1-0 at half-time in their Ligue 1 match at the Parc des Princes, with captain Marquinhos scoring the only goal of the opening 45 minutes.
Marquinhos put the hosts in front in the 31st minute, giving Paris Saint-Germain an advantage after a first half in which both teams were competing in the third round of the season. The goal was the first AS Monaco had conceded in the league campaign.
The two sides went into the interval with Paris Saint-Germain ahead, while the visitors were facing the possibility of suffering their first defeat after opening the season with two victories.
Matvey Safonov started in goal for Paris Saint-Germain, while Aleksandr Golovin was named in the starting line-up for AS Monaco. Both players therefore began the match for their respective teams, as they had in the opening stages of the Ligue 1 campaign.
AS Monaco arrived in Paris as the early leaders of the Ligue 1 table. Luis Felipe’s side had taken maximum points from its first two matches and had not conceded before Marquinhos broke through in the first half.
The result at the interval represented a change in momentum for the two clubs. AS Monaco had made the stronger start to the season in terms of points, while Paris Saint-Germain had unexpectedly dropped points in each of their first two league fixtures.
Paris Saint-Germain drew 2-2 away from home against Rennes before producing the same scoreline in an away match against Lille. Those consecutive draws left the defending champions without a win in either of their opening two games, making their half-time lead over AS Monaco particularly significant.
Marquinhos’ strike was the decisive moment of the first half. The Paris Saint-Germain captain’s goal separated the teams as they headed back to the dressing rooms, with the home side protecting a one-goal advantage and AS Monaco attempting to recover from conceding for the first time this season.
At the break, Paris Saint-Germain were in front despite their difficult opening to the campaign, while AS Monaco’s perfect start had been interrupted by the goal at the Parc des Princes. The visitors still had the second half to respond, but the hosts held the advantage when the teams left the pitch.