Monaco stuns PSG while Marseille draws with Toulouse and fails to claim Ligue 1 summit
Paris Saint-Germain endured a surprising 1-0 loss to Monaco on Saturday yet clung to the Ligue 1 lead after close challengers Marseille ended in a 2-2 stalemate against Toulouse.
Takumi Minamino from Japan netted the decisive goal for Monaco in the principality, marking the ex-Liverpool forward's second-half effort as PSG's second league setback this term.
Monaco weathered the final minutes, which included seven minutes of added time, despite former Paris defender Thilo Kehrer receiving a red card in the 80th minute.
This outcome caught many off guard, with Monaco snapping a streak of three straight Ligue 1 defeats that had distanced them from PSG and the top contenders.
They now sit temporarily in sixth position, trailing the Paris outfit by seven points; PSG's sole prior Ligue 1 stumble this season occurred at Marseille back in September.
PSG hold the top of the table with 30 points from 14 matches, edging Marseille by one point following Roberto De Zerbi's squad being thwarted by Santiago Hidalgo's stoppage-time leveller for Toulouse at the Velodrome.
Attention now turns to Lens, third and two points adrift of the frontrunners, who can leapfrog to first with a victory at Angers on Sunday.
"Normally I like reviewing games and dissecting them, but today feels straightforward. We lacked sharpness and committed numerous personal and team errors," remarked PSG manager Luis Enrique, whose lineup was once more not at peak capacity.
"Neither side reached great heights, yet they outperformed us. Without question, this was our poorest display of the campaign."
Thrilling finish
Minamino tamed a cross from Aleksandr Golovin before slotting beyond Lucas Chevalier to break the deadlock, and Monaco preserved their edge even after German defender Kehrer was dismissed post-VAR review for a challenge on Ibrahim Mbaye.
Paul Pogba enjoyed another short substitute outing for the home team, coming a week after his competitive return following a doping suspension spanning over two years.
"Securing a win again feels rewarding, especially versus one of Europe's elite sides, possibly the finest," noted Sebastien Pocognoli, who has faced challenges since taking over as Monaco boss in October.
Marseille fancied securing a full haul against Toulouse at home, but they turned in a lethargic opening 45 minutes after an exhilarating midweek Champions League triumph over Newcastle United.
Brazilian attacker Emersonn surged nearly the full pitch length to put the away team ahead, a lead they carried into the break.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg struck the upright for Marseille soon after the restart, prior to Aron Donnum's lob clipping the crossbar for the visitors.
Shortly thereafter, Marseille equalised as Igor Paixao evaded keeper Guillaume Restes to find the net, and the hosts took the lead on 74 minutes via Hojbjerg's header from a pinpoint Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivery.
Hojbjerg discarded his jersey in jubilation as Marseille seemed poised to ascend the standings, but substitute Hidalgo, the youthful Argentine striker, hushed the supporters by nodding in a lengthy throw from Mark McKenzie during added time to level at 2-2.
"Naturally we feel disappointed, but the title race is far from decided this evening. Plenty of months remain," stated De Zerbi after his team let slip a prime chance at the summit.
The weekend's remaining fixture saw Paris FC and relegation-threatened Auxerre share a 1-1 result in Paris.