Minamino Stuns PSG as Monaco Seal 1–0 Upset in Ligue 1 Clash

Japan international Takumi Minamino netted the decisive goal as Monaco pulled off a surprise 1–0 victory over defending champions Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday at the Stade Louis II.

The former Liverpool forward struck just after the midway point of the second half, handing PSG only their second Ligue 1 defeat of the season. Monaco held firm through a tense finish — including seven minutes of added time — despite going down to 10 men when ex-PSG defender Thilo Kehrer was sent off in the 80th minute following a VAR review for a foul on Ibrahim Mbaye.

The victory ended Monaco’s run of three straight league losses and lifted them provisionally to sixth place, seven points behind PSG. The champions, who also lost to Marseille in September, sit on 30 points from 14 matches but could be overtaken by Marseille or Lens before the weekend ends.

Marseille, buoyed by their 2–1 Champions League win over Newcastle, can go top with a win against Toulouse, while Lens have a chance to leapfrog PSG when they face Angers on Sunday.

Minamino scored after controlling an Aleksandr Golovin delivery and finishing past Lucas Chevalier. Monaco defended their lead even after Kehrer’s dismissal. Paul Pogba made another short substitute appearance — his second since returning from a long doping ban.

PSG, coming off a 5–3 Champions League win against Tottenham, were missing several key players including Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Desire Doue. Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele appeared for just over half an hour as he continues to regain fitness but couldn’t tilt the game in PSG’s favor. The defeat means PSG have already matched their total number of league losses from each of the previous two seasons.

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