AS Monaco 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain: 5 Talking Points

PSG recorded a comfortable 2-1 win over reigning Ligue 1 champions AS Monaco at the Stade Louis II, to race 9 points clear, at the top of the table.

Edinson Cavani opened the scoring for the away side, in the 19th minute, with an instinctive finish before Neymar doubled the lead with a confident spot-kick in the 52nd minute.

Monaco were handed a late lifeline after Joao Moutinho's free-kick looped into the back of the net, but Leonardo Jardim's side failed to nick a point in the biggest game in France at the moment.

Here are the biggest talking points from the PSG's 2-1 away win over Monaco:

---

#5 Is there any stopping Paris Saint-Germain?

PSG moved 9 points clear at the top of the Ligue 1 table courtesy of their win over Monaco. Unai Emery's side are running away with the league at the moment and the French teams don't know what to do to stop the PSG juggernaut.

The Parc Des Princes outfit are unbeaten across all competitions this season and have won all but two of their league games. Their goal difference of 35 is also unmatched, especially so early in the season.

PSG look certain to win back the Ligue 1 crown they lost to Monaco last season. But is that all?

I don't think so.

The cash-rich Ligue 1 giants have the resources and the personnel to win something that has eluded them so far - the UEFA Champions League. PSG have everything that they need to succeed in the biggest competition in club football, and it will be a shame if they are unable to conquer the final frontier this season.

It won't be easy, especially considering the form of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, or the unpredictability of Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid, or the defiance of Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona.

#4 Monaco got a lifeline but failed to capitalize

The game looked done and dusted around the 80th-minute mark with Paris Saint-Germain cruising, already having a two-goal lead. However, Dani Alves brought down Rony Lopes right at the edge of the penalty area, affording the home side a glimmer of hope.

Moutinho stood over the free-kick and went for goal, his shot could have been easily saved by Areola but it took a wicked deflection off Kylian Mbappe before nestling into the back of the net.

Monaco had managed to halve the deficit with 9 minutes and stoppage time left in the game, and a game which looked done and dusted sprang to life, culminating in a feisty closing period.

Falcao had a chance soon after to score the equalizer but hit it straight at Areola. Then, from another set-piece, Glik fancied a header but fouled Thiago Silva in the process. It was Falcao, again, who had a chance to bring his side on level terms in the dying stages of the match, but he failed to make the required connection with Jorge's cross from the left-wing.

Monaco were given an opportunity to find a way back into the match, but the Stade Louis II side failed to capitalize on it.

#3 Edinson Cavani - The best striker in world football at the moment?

16 league goals, 22 across all competitions.

Edinson Cavani is having an unforgettable season and while not many rate him as one of the finest strikers in the world, following his move to PSG - considered by many to be a career harakiri, he is making his case stronger as the season progresses.

The Uruguayan is currently the leading scorer in all competitions in Europe's top 5 leagues and is the leading contender to win the European Golden Shoe, come the end of the season.

Cavani had netted 35 goals last season too but failed to finish in the top 3 in the European Golden Shoe ranking, which Lionel Messi won for the 4th time in his career, courtesy of his 37 goals.

However, the Uruguayan hitman has been handed a huge boost this season as the French league now receives a multiplier of 2 instead of 1.5, courtesy of Ligue 1 moving up the rankings into the top 5 in Europe.

While the debate on Cavani shall be reserved for another day, it is evident to all, that the 30-year-old is on course to win the European Golden Shoe this season. Maybe that will silence some doubters?

#2 AS Monaco - Yet another victim of enormous wealth in football

We have seen so many scintillating teams dismantled because of the enormous depth of riches of some clubs, and due to the skewed distribution of revenue amongst the various teams in a certain league.

It was Arsenal in the 2000s, followed by Borussia Dortmund in the early stages of this decade and now it is AS Monaco. All this while, teams like SL Benfica, Porto and the likes have produced numerous world-class talents but have failed to hold on to them due to the wealth of bigger, powerful clubs.

The Stade Louis II outfit played some of the best football in Europe last season. Not only did the challenge the monopoly of PSG, they were successfully able to usurp the Parc des Princes outfit and win the Ligue 1 title.

On top of this, Leonardo Jardim's side also managed to reach the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.

However, the tables and turned and while Monaco still play some beautiful, attacking football. They can no longer challenge the bigger clubs. The Stade Louis II outfit have been knocked out of Europe and with that loss - are effectively out of the title race.

It is a pity that teams like Monaco, who have enormous potential and talent, are torn apart by the wealthy clubs, thereby causing this disparity between the rich and the poor. What ensues is that the rich only get wealthier, while the poor become poorer.

It is time the footballing world reevaluated the distribution of wealth, so as to provide a more level playing field to all the clubs involved.

#1 A homecoming to forget for Kylian Mbappe

Open goal - Missed

Own Goal - Scored

Kylian Mbappe announced himself to the world as he played a stellar role in Monaco's epic run last season. The teenager was linked with world record moves to some of the biggest clubs in the world in the summer, before eventually moving to Paris Saint-Germain for what is an initial loan deal with a compulsion to buy for the 2nd highest fee in the history of football.

The French international returned to the stadium where his fairytale began less than a year ago. And it was not a homecoming he would cherish, despite his side getting all the 3-points. His new side, I mean.

Mbappe had the chance to open the scoring for PSG in the 2nd minute of the game. The effervescent Neymar - who is slowly but surely establishing himself as one of the best in the world - carved open the Monaco defence with an inch-perfect through ball into the path of Mbappe, who successfully rounded Subasic but ended up firing into the side netting with an open goal gaping. A glaring miss.

The teenager was then denied by Subasic at the start of the second half, as the shot-stopper tipped over Mbappe's attempted chip.

If this was not enough, Joao Moutinho's free-kick in the 81st minute took a wicked deflection off Mbappe and looped into the back of the net, providing Monaco with a slim chance of a comeback. One, which the home side failed to capitalize on.

Things didn't go according to plan for Mbappe on his homecoming, but at least his team got the 3 valuable points.