Paris Saint-Germain have conceded at least twice in four consecutive Ligue 1 matches for the first time since the beginning of 2005, according to Opta, underlining a difficult start to the current French league campaign.
Luis Enrique’s side drew their opening two matches of the season 2-2. On both occasions, Paris Saint-Germain had to recover late to avoid defeat, rather than controlling the games from the outset.
Their latest match, against Monaco, has followed a similar pattern. Paris Saint-Germain opened the scoring but then allowed their opponents to score twice, leaving the defending Ligue 1 champions facing another difficult contest.
The unwanted sequence began in the final round of last season, when Paris Saint-Germain were beaten 2-1 by Paris FC. Since then, the club have conceded two or more goals in four successive Ligue 1 fixtures.
That represents the first time in more than 20 years that Paris Saint-Germain have allowed at least two goals in four consecutive league matches. Opta’s record covers the modern period dating back to the start of 2005.
The figures contrast sharply with the club’s position at the end of the previous campaign. Paris Saint-Germain won Ligue 1, finishing six points ahead of Lens. Monaco, meanwhile, ended that season in seventh place.
Paris Saint-Germain’s two opening draws this season both followed the same broad pattern: the team conceded ground during the match before finding a late response. Against Monaco, they again took the lead but were unable to protect it after conceding twice.
The run therefore links the closing fixture of the previous Ligue 1 campaign with the opening games of the new one. It has also produced a rare statistical mark for a club that finished last season as French champions.
For Luis Enrique, the immediate concern is the number of goals being conceded. Paris Saint-Germain have scored first against Monaco but have still found themselves behind after allowing two replies. Their first two league matches also ended 2-2, with late comebacks required in both.
The result leaves the champions’ opening to the campaign marked by repeated defensive problems rather than early momentum. The Opta statistic places the current spell in a historical context: Paris Saint-Germain had not conceded at least twice in four straight Ligue 1 games since the start of 2005.
Their title-winning season had seen them finish above Lens by six points, while Monaco were seven places further back in seventh. The early results of the new campaign, however, have brought an unusual defensive record and left Paris Saint-Germain searching for greater consistency at the back.