Paris Saint-Germain defeated AS Monaco 3-0 in Ligue 1 to maintain their perfect start to the season this evening.
Edinson Cavani headed into the net to open the scoring shortly before the hour mark, before adding a second in the 71st minute.
Ezequiel Lavezzi then finished with aplomb eight minutes from time to seal an impressive victory for the reigning champions, who also handed a debut to Angel di Maria off the bench.
Relive Sports Mole's live commentary of the action below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Ligue 1 clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. This one has always served up a close encounter with four of the last five meetings ending in draws. Who will triumph tonight?
Let's get straight down to the team news then.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN XI: Trapp; Aurier, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Maxwell; Verratti, Motta, Matuidi; Lucas Moura, Cavani, Ibrahimovic
MONACO XI: Subasic; Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Elderson; Lemar, Toulalan, Traore; Silva, El Shaarawy, Martial
No Angel di Maria then for PSG tonight. He's still building up his fitness following the Copa America this summer. That doesn't make the attacking triumvirate of Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimovic any less frightening though.
Monaco certainly don't have the same level of team that they've had in recent years but Stephen El Shaarawy's loan arrival from Inter Milan will be crucial if Monaco are to breach the PSG defence tonight.
HEAD TO HEAD: As mentioned earlier, these teams are rarely separated. PSG won the last match 2-0 in March, but the previous four before that all ended in draws.
PSG come into the match in fine form after defeating Montpellier, Ajaccio and Lille. They're the only team in Ligue 1 to still hold a 100% record.
It's a different story for Monaco though. They're still unbeaten in the league but have drawn two of their opening three matches. Their big blow came earlier this week when a 2-1 win over Valencia was not enough to overturn a 3-1 loss in the first leg and Monaco dropped into the Europa League.
MONACO SUBS: Nardi, Bakayoko, Carrillo, Cavaleiro, Wallace, Pasalic, Toure
PSG SUBS: Sirigu, Marquinhos, Di Maria, Lavezzi, Rabiot, Stambouli, Van der Wiel
Confirmation of the players on the bench then, and if things aren't going to plan for PSG then Angel di Maria or Ezequiel Lavezzi could come on to freshen things up.
Monaco have made mass changes this summer. Chelsea loanee Mario Pasalic could come on for them.
The teams are coming out, and that signals time for my prediction. I just don't think Monaco can cope with PSG at the moment. The champions have started the season on fire, and Monaco are yet to prove themselves so far this season. I'm going for 2-0 to PSG!
KICKOFF! Paris Saint-Germain get the game underway...
Monaco aren't able to even touch the ball in the opening stages, but PSG are quite happy to play the ball around the back and across the midfield.
Just as I say that Monaco win the ball high up the pitch and El Shaarawy's cross is cleared by Thiago Silva.
CHANCE! Aurier plays a delicious ball into the box for Ibrahimovic whose shot floats wide of the right post.
Both full backs are getting up the field for PSG, and Maxwell's cross is well claimed by Subasic.
PSG win a corner after Fabinho heads a cross over his own bar, but the cross from Lucas is cleared easily.
Monaco starting to ask a few questions of the PSG defence now but Thiago Silva cooly ushers a through ball out for a goal kick.
A half-chance for PSG as Ibrahimovic combines with Lucas Moura but, just as they are about to break into the area, Carvalho intercepts.
CHANCE! What a ball played in from Verratti, putting Lucas through one-on-one. His shot though is straight at Subasic.
CHANCE! It's end-to-end here! El Shaarawy steals the ball from Matuidi and drives up the pitch into the area. He shoots low but Trapp makes the save.
OFFSIDE! One pass too many as Ibrahimovic picks out Lucas. The Brazilian chests it down for Cavani who is flagged for offside.
It's interesting to see the two contrasting styles of football tonight. Monaco are attacking with much more urgency than PSG, who are happy to keep possession and feel Monaco out. It's been a good game so far.
CHANCE! An Aurier cross meets the head of Cavani, but he directs the ball over the bar.
CHANCE! PSG are turning the screw on Monaco now. Ibrahimovic goes round the Monaco defender like he's not there and cuts the ball back, Verratti fails to connect and Cavani's shot is parried by Subasic.
Martial shows his skill for the first time tonight and is fouled by Motta. The ball comes in from the free kick but fails to beat the first man.
Ibrahimovic gets in behind from a long ball from David Luiz but his chipped effort is completely harmless and Subasic gathers.
Matuidi drives down the left wing and plays a high ball into the box but Lucas just isn't tall enough to get his head on it.
Lucas retrieves the ball 30 yards from goal and takes the shot on, but it's pulled wide of the left post.
Monaco have won a free kick in a dangerous position on the right side..
Lemar delivers a good ball into the area from the set piece but David Luiz is able to clear.
A Traore cross is cleared behind by Aurier, and the corner comes in from Lemar. It's in a dangerous area but there is no Monaco player there to get his head on it.
Monaco are enjoying a good spell here. Martial is just about crowded out in the left side of the penalty area but Monaco regroup with the ball and go again.
Lemar is causing a few problems for the PSG defence. First, he goes by Cavani before Matuidi takes him out and concedes a free kick.
Lemar's free kick narrowly misses the head of Elderson and Ibrahimovic clears it behind for a corner. It wasn't the best corner in and the ball is cleared.
The final ball has not been good enough for either side, as Maxwell's cross is deflected behind. Aurier rises highest but heads the ball high and wide from the corner.
CHANCE! Maxwell plays the ball to Cavani inside the area, but he doesn't quite get a good enough connection on it and directs the ball harmlessly wide.
HALF TIME: PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 0-0 MONACO
So, no stoppage time played at Stade Louis II, and the teams go in goalless at half time.
It's been a lively encounter though, with both teams going for the win. Cavani came closest with his effort but Subasic was equal to it.
PSG have certainly had the better of the match and their balls over the top are causing a few problems. Lucas is perfect for those situations.
We're just a few minutes away from the start of the second half. PSG certainly look like the most likely winners and could be calling on Di Maria or Lavezzi to freshen up their attack in the second half.
KICKOFF! Monaco start the second half and play the ball all the way back to Subasic.
CHANCE! Maxwell crosses to the far post and Ibrahimovic's header from six yards is caught by Subasic. He should have done better there.
CHANCE! El Shaarawy with a super chance but Trapp gathers. Martial bursts into the area before cutting back for El Shaarawy but Trapp does well to make the save.
Monaco now have a corner as Aurier deflects a cross behind... Lemar will take.
Monaco really do need to be making the most of their corners, but once again Lemar's cross is cleared.
PSG aren't anywhere near their best at the start of the second half. They really do need to step up a gear if they want the three points tonight.
GOAL: Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Monaco (Cavani)
Great header from Cavani! Maxwell receives a pass on the left wing and crosses in towards Cavani who finishes into the top left corner for his first goal of the season.
CHANCE! PSG go on the attack straight away and Ibrahimovic plays in Matuidi. The midfielder can't quite control the ball well enough but cuts inside and shoots towards the bottom right corner. Subasic gets down quick enough to make the save though.
Martial puts a cross into the area but David Luiz clears and PSG regroup.
It looks like Carrillo will be coming on for Monaco shortly.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Both teams make a change as El Shaarawy is replaced by Carrillo. It's finally time for Di Maria's debut! He replaces Lucas Moura on the right wing.
David Luiz goes long immediately looks for Di Maria, but it's just a few metres to strong and Subasic gathers.
CHANCE! Di Maria nearly sets up a goal with his first touch! A delicious cross is played towards Cavani, whose diving header is straight at Subasic. That really should have been 2-0 there.
It's all PSG at the moment. Since the goal, they've had all of the ball and have really camped Monaco into their own half. The hosts need to come up with some sort of plan in the next 20 minutes to get anything out of this match.
YELLOW CARD! David Luiz picks up the first booking of the match after fouling Traore.
OFFSIDE! Cavaleiro, who had just come on for Lemar a minute earlier, is in a good position in the area, but moves just a fraction too early as Martial plays him in.
GOAL: Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Monaco (Cavani)
Delicious goal!! Ibrahimovic picks Cavani out perfectly with the through ball and the Uruguayan passes the ball past Subasic into the back of the net. What an assist from Ibra!
That goal should have put the game to bed then. Cavani had been criticised in the lead-up for not scoring yet. Not tonight though - what a performance!
SUBSTITUTION: Ibrahimovic comes off for Lavezzi. The Swede has done really well tonight on his way back to full fitness, and now Cavani will move into the centre for the final 14 minutes. Lavezzi takes up his place on the left wing.
CHANCE! PSG could have had a third through Aurier. Lavezzi plays him in down the right side of the penalty area, and the full back fires wide from a good position. Cavani was waiting in the area there.
SUBSTITUTION: PSG make their final change as Marquinhos replaces Verratti.
SUBSTITUTION: Silva is replaced by Pasalic. The youngster is on loan from Chelsea. Let's see what he's got.
GOAL: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Monaco (Lavezzi)
Another fine, fine goal! Di Maria plays the ball through to Lavezzi who powers it past Subasic to lock down the win. I can't reiterate how good Di Maria's pass was for that goal.
If Monaco are the best that Ligue 1 has to offer PSG then they certainly won't have any problems retaining the title. PSG simply haven't got out of first gear tonight but they've still beaten their rivals convincingly.
Both teams are just playing out the match now. The final whistle can't come soon enough for Monaco.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
It's being played at walking pace now. Maxwell plays the ball over the top to Cavani but Subasic is first to the ball.
FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 Monaco
Four wins out of four for PSG, and they are going to take some stopping this season. They move back on top of the table as the only team with a 100% record, and are yet to concede this season.
For Monaco, this completes a terrible week. After being knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday they could have made a statement by performing tonight but, simply put, they were nowhere near matching PSG.
Thanks for joining me tonight. It's certainly been a good one. Join us again for more Ligue 1 action throughout the season.
Written by
Jonathan McIntosh
Jonathan McIntosh
