November 25, 2023

PSG score 5 past hapless Monaco

Paris Saint-Germain surged to a four-point lead at the summit of Ligue 1 with a scintillating 5-2 triumph over Monaco at the Parc des Princes, securing their sixth consecutive league victory under Luis Enrique’s leadership.

The clash between the league’s top two scorers didn’t disappoint, with none of the previous 12 league head-to-head encounters witnessing a goalless first half. Monaco’s apparent opening goal by Vanderson was disallowed for offside, and PSG swiftly capitalized as Gonçalo Ramos pounced on a Philipp Köhn error from Ousmane Dembélé’s shot, granting PSG an early lead.

The match remained an intense back-and-forth affair. A rare blunder from PSG’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, saw Takumi Minamino capitalize on a pass and equalize for Monaco. However, Monaco’s defensive vulnerabilities away from home were exposed once again when Soungoutou Magassa fouled Dembélé in the box, resulting in a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé, marking his 14th goal in Ligue 1 this season.

Dembélé transitioned from provider to scorer in the second half, netting his first goal of the campaign, extending PSG’s lead to 3-1. Moments later, Vitinha’s exquisite long-range strike found the net before Folarin Balogun swiftly pulled one back for Monaco. Despite the quick goal exchange, PSG secured the win with Randal Kolo Muani adding a fifth deep into stoppage time.

The result highlighted Monaco’s struggles away from home, with just one win in their last six away league matches, leaving them trailing PSG by six points at the top of the French league standings.

Bayern and Kane continue fine form

Bayern Munich extended their Bundesliga winning streak to six matches with a victory over Cologne at the RheinEnergieStadion. The win propelled the Rekordmeister momentarily to the top of the table, while Cologne remains anchored at the bottom, securing only one win in their 12 league games this season.

Steffen Baumgart’s side initially seized the initiative, yet they couldn’t capitalize on their prime opportunity as Jan Thielmann’s attempt was blocked by Manuel Neuer. Subsequently, Bayern gained momentum, seizing control and breaking the deadlock in the 19th minute. Leroy Sané’s pass to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saw the Cameroonian’s shot cleared off the line, falling favorably to Harry Kane, who calmly swept in the rebound. Kane’s goal marked a milestone as the highest-scoring Englishman in a Bundesliga season.

With the lead in hand, Bayern continued their offensive thrusts. Choupo-Moting and Sané both had chances to further the scoreline, but were denied by Marvin Schwäbe and narrowly missed the mark, respectively. Despite dominating, Bayern couldn’t add to their lead by halftime.

Both sides struggled to create clear scoring opportunities early in the second half. Bayern upped the pressure after the hour mark, with Kingsley Coman striking the crossbar with a header, the closest they came to doubling their advantage.

However, the second goal eluded Bayern, and they held onto their narrow lead until the final whistle. Cologne, the league’s lowest scorers, failed to convert late pressure into goals, solidifying their position at the bottom of the Bundesliga, overtaking Union Berlin.

Alaves in easy win over struggling Granada

Deportivo Alavés secured consecutive wins in La Liga for the first time this season, triumphing 3-1 over Granada at the Mendizorrotza Stadium. The victory adds pressure on visiting manager Paco López, who faces uncertainty amid Granada’s winless streak of 11 league games.

Despite their position in the league, both teams initiated brightly, creating chances that narrowly missed. Alavés’ striker Samu Omorodion, facing his former teammates from his boyhood club, almost scored as the home side persisted. Omorodion’s apparent goal off Javi López’s near-post cross turned out to be an own goal by Granada’s Raúl Torrente, providing the opening for Alavés.

This early advantage eased the mounting pressure on Alavés’ manager Luis García. The crowd at the Mendizorrotza erupted again as Los Blanquiazules widened their lead five minutes before halftime, courtesy of a splendid curling strike from Abde Rebbach.

Continuing their dominance, Alavés extended their lead further in the second half. Omorodion, finally scoring against his former club, tapped in a cross by captain Luis Rioja, securing three crucial points for the home side. This win was pivotal for García’s team, considering their previous struggles that led to a drop in the league table.

Granada attempted a late comeback after a triple substitution by López, resulting in a penalty converted by Myrto Uzuni. However, it served as a mere consolation as Alavés claimed the victory, leaving Granada without an away league win since May 2022.