Ligue 1 Review | Are Monaco ready to rival PSG for the title?

AS Monaco are not only top of the league, but also top-scorers, and there is evidence of a potential to challenge for the Ligue 1 title. 

The arrival of Luis Enrique, as well as a significant summer recruitment drive, which saw the club spend almost €350m, alluded to another year of dominance for Paris Saint-Germain. Whilst they only beat RC Lens by one point last season, a true title challenge arguably never took hold. 

However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for PSG this season. They look much more at ease against stronger opponents, which could serve them well in the Champions League, however, domestically, against teams that are comfortable sitting in a low block, Les Parisiens are yet to find the answers. Against sides such as Clermont, with whom they drew at the weekend, Luis Henrique’s style is seemingly ill-suited to breaking down defences. Granted, it is difficult to break down two banks of five, but Monaco managed it on four occasions on the opening day of the season. 

Given the flaws displayed by PSG in these opening game weeks, hope is being offered to their rivals. OGC Nice temporarily took top spot last weekend, but Francesco Farioli has sought to downplay his side’s chances of mounting a title challenge; their draw against Stade Brestois, who went into this weekend top of the table, shows why. The problems encountered by Farioli are actually not dissimilar to those faced by Luis Enrique. 

Monaco manager Adi Hütter is another manager who has downplayed his side’s chances of challenging PSG.“We have to improve a lot. So many people think we are a top team. I think we are a good team, but we have a lot of work to do,” he said after defeat to Nice. Was that genuine pessimism or smoke and mirrors? If it is the