PSG wins 4-2 thriller in Monaco but loses Donnarumma to facial injury

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend its unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday, but it came at a cost, as the defending champion lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.

The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.

PSG coach Luis Enrique declined to criticize referee Francois Letexier for not sending off Singo after a dangerous challenge left Donnarumma with a gashed face.

"The refereeing decisions? I can't do anything, I couldn't see the action, but when you see an action like that it's always difficult," Enrique said in a post-match interview.

"The players don't intend to hurt. It's difficult to referee this kind of match, I'm not talking about the refereeing work," he added.

Singo had been booked a few minutes previously, but French media reported that the referee saw the contact as incidental, rather than deliberate, and allowed him to remain on the field.

"I don't know if the referee was badly positioned, but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG's Brazilian captain Marquinhos.

"To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call."

Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy, unintentional collision, as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champion.

That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross. Monaco, though, hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes.

Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level.

Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour, putting PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy.

Ousmane Dembele soon equalized and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favor.

Lee Kang-in's long-range effort was tipped onto the post by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Kohn, before home coach Adi Hutter was sent off for his reaction to a penalty appeal being turned down following a challenge on Embolo.

Dembele struck again deep into stoppage time to seal the victory and signaled a return to form after reports of tension with PSG coach Enrique in recent weeks.

The result opens up a 10-point gap between PSG and its closest challengers Marseille and Monaco, the last team to beat the capital club away from the Parc des Princes in March 2023.

"The objective was achieved. It was a difficult match, we weren't up to par at all times, they knew how to come back and take the lead, but I'm happy with the result," Enrique said.

Enrique's side goes to Lens on Sunday in the last 64 of the French Cup in its final game of the year, before a rematch with Monaco in the Champions Trophy in Doha on Jan 5.

AFP