Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé may still be reeling from an early UEFA Champions League exit, but they still have the Ligue 1 Uber Eats title in their sights. Sunday's hosts AS Monaco have been warned.
AS Monaco - Paris Saint-Germain
- kick-off: 12:00 GMT
>> LIVE SCORING, STATS AND COMMENTARY
PSG had looked favourites to win through to the Champions League quarter-finals after Mbappé built on his first-leg winner with a 39th-minute opener at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu last Wednesday, but a second-half hat-trick from former Olympique Lyonnais star Karim Benzema saw Real Madrid prevail.
Having also lost 1-0 to OGC Nice the Saturday before last, Paris were relieved to get back to winning ways on, Mbappé - yet again - Neymar Jr. and Leandro Paredes on target in a 3-0 victory over Girondins de Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes.
Cruise control
PSG restored their 15-point lead over nearest challengers Olympique de Marseile at the Ligue 1 Uber Eats summit with that win, and coach Mauricio Pochettino is refusing to let his players' heads go down, despite their continental disappointment.
"We're a team and we're united," said the Argentine tactician. "It's a really sad situation but our focus now is to win the title. We're ahead of second place. The situation is difficult, but we won't change the past. We must try to concentrate to win the title, but also on one game at a time.
Watch: Highlights of Monaco's 1-0 loss at Strasbourg
"Football has no memory whatsoever, it's a shame," Tweeted Monaco midfielder Cesc Fàbregasin support of Messi and Neymar last week. "Always with you brothers." He will join a host of PSG players watching on from the sidelines on Saturday, with Sergio Ramos (calf), Angel Di Maria (thigh), Ander Herrera (eye), Juan Bernat (calf) and Layvin Kurzawa (back) all missing for the visitors.
Marco Verratti is pushing for a start in midfield, and could come in for Gini Wijnaldum, but Pochettino is unlikely to change much from the victorious Bordeaux display. Gigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas have alternated games of late, though, and it could be the Italian's turn at the Stade Louis II.
Monaco misery
If PSG have had a slump, Monaco have been in relative freefall of late. Their 1-0 win over Marseille at the start of March was their only victory in eight games in all competitions, and they have dropped 10 of the last possible 15 points in the league.
The principality side were eighth when they lost 2-0 to PSG in December's reverse fixture, and they remain there - although now six places from the European places - with little discernible upturn since Philippe Clement succeeded Niko Kovac as coach.
Monaco were beaten 3-1 over two legs against Braga in the UEFA Europa League over the last week - losses which sandwiched a 1-0 loss to RC Strasbourg in the league last Sunday, and Clement and sporting director Paul Mitchell have both been compelled to back the current project in recent days.
Watch: Highlights of PSG's 3-0 win over Bordeaux
"We have to score but also stay balanced and not leave too much space for our opponent," said Clement. "But we know we're still playing in an attacking way, which ultimately doesn't change much against Paris. In the dressing room, I sense a lot of desire to play a great match.
"I've got complete confidence in him," Mitchell said of Clement. "He's a winner, an extremely studious and hardworking coach. He was still there at 9pm yesterday when I left the training ground. He's the first to arrive and the last to leave. He's a great coach. He's also already shown that he knows how to help young players develop."
Tactical tweak?
As well as Fabregas, youngsters Krépin Diatta and Jean Marcelin are missing due toa torn medial ligament and strained thigh muscle respectively, although neither would have been expected to start against PSG.
Axel Disasi and Youssouf Fofana are each a booking away from a suspension, but both are expected to start at the Stade Louis II, the latter coming into midfield to try and help bolster things alongside Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Possible teams
Monaco: Nubel, Vanderson, Disasi, Badiashile, Henrique; Fofana, Tchouaméni; Martins, Volland, Diop; Ben Yedder
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Mendes, Paredes, Pereira, Verratti; Messi, Mbappé, Neymar
