Monaco Stun PSG with Minamino's Decisive Strike

Takumi Minamino of Japan netted the sole goal as Monaco pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over defending Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, right in the heart of the principality.

The 30-year-old forward, previously with Liverpool, found the net shortly after the interval in the second half at Stade Louis II, handing PSG their second league loss of the season.

Monaco defended resolutely in the final moments, enduring seven minutes of added time, despite seeing ex-PSG defender Thilo Kehrer dismissed in the 80th minute.

This unexpected outcome halted Monaco's streak of three straight Ligue 1 defeats, helping them close the gap on PSG and the leading pack.

The team now sits temporarily in sixth place, trailing the Paris outfit by seven points, with PSG's sole prior league setback this term occurring at Marseille back in September.

PSG hold the top spot with 30 points from 14 matches, yet the recent Champions League victors lead Marseille and Lens by just two points, potentially slipping from first later on Saturday.

Marseille, coming off a 2-1 home triumph against Newcastle United in the Champions League midweek, could claim the summit with a victory over Toulouse at the Velodrome later.

Lens also eyes a chance to overtake PSG by securing a win at Angers on Sunday.

Minamino tamed a cross from Aleksandr Golovin before slotting beyond Lucas Chevalier to break the deadlock, and Monaco preserved their lead even after Kehrer received his marching orders via VAR review for a challenge on Ibrahim Mbaye.

Paul Pogba featured briefly as a substitute for the home side, one week on from his return to competitive action after more than two years sidelined by a doping suspension.

PSG, fresh from a 5-3 Champions League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, fielded a depleted lineup without Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, or Desire Doue.

Moreover, Ballon d'Or recipient Ousmane Dembele lasted barely over 30 minutes from the bench as he works on regaining match sharpness amid an injury-plagued campaign.

The French attacker failed to influence the game significantly, and PSG have now endured as many Ligue 1 losses this season as across their previous two full campaigns.