Paris Saint-Germain went into their away tie with AS Monaco looking to put a huge dent into Claudio Ranieri and his side's title ambitions, while the hosts looked for a victory to put more pressure on the league leaders.
Javier Pastore gave PSG the lead after only eight minutes, as he made the most of a corner to stab the ball home at the back post.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was wasteful later in the first half as he turned Maxwell's cross wide of goal, before Lucas Ocampos saw his effort kept out by Salvatore Sirigu as Monaco went in search of an equaliser.
The hosts levelled the scores in the final stages of the game when Thiago Silva turned a cross from Fabio Tavares into his own net, while Ibrahimovic missed a last-minute chance to win the game and push PSG further towards the Ligue 1 title.
You can find out how all of the action developed by reading our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good evening everyone and welcome to tonight's blockbuster clash between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. This evening's game is being billed as the most exciting encounter in French football for the past 20 years, with its outcome potentially going some way to deciding who claims France's domestic title this season.
PSG find themselves five points ahead at the top of the Ligue 1 table, with a win tonight pushing them eight points clear of Monaco at the summit of France's top league.
Tonight's hosts go into the fixture knowing that anything less than a victory could see them slip out of contention for the title. However, three home points would send Claudio Ranieri's men within two points of PSG and leave things all to play for going into the remaining period of the season
The Stade Louis II is completely sold out this evening as Europe turns its attention towards two of football's big-spending clubs.
Now time for some team news, with reports suggesting that Javier Pastore will be given the responsibility of replacing the injured Edinson Cavani for PSG.
AS Monaco starting XI: Subasic; Fabinho, Kurzawa, Carvalho, Abidal, Moutinho, Rodriguez, Ocampos, Toulalan, Germain, Riviere
Paris Saint-Germain starting XI: Sirigu; Silva, Alex, Maxwell, van der Wiel, Motta, Matuidi, Verratti, Pastore, Lucas, Ibrahimovic
AS Monaco substitutes: Romero, Raggi, Dirar, Ferreira Carrasco, Obbadi, Kondogbia, Berbatov
Paris Saint-Germain substitutes: Douchez, Marquinhos, Digne, Cabaye, Rabiot, Menez, Lavezzi
So PSG have decided to bring in Pastore to cover for the injured Cavani. Pastore will operate out wide on the opposite flank to Lucas, with Marco Veratti, Thiago Motta and Blaise Matuidi sitting in midfield.
The visitors will be relying on a lone striker in the shape of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, though PSG's midfield will be expected to bolster the Swede's attacking threat when in possession of the ball.
Monaco have sprung a minor surprise following the inclusion of winger Lucas Ocampos in their starting XI, with Ranieri looking to set his side up with strength in numbers in the midfield department. The Italian coach has decided to play three industrious midfielders in the shape of James Rodriguez, João Moutinho and veteran anchorman Jeremy Toulalan.
PSG will go into tonight's game knowing that they will have to break down Monaco in the early stages. Though Laurent Blanc's men will also be aware that Monaco need all three points tonight, which could open up a number of doors on the counter-attack in the latter stages of the match.
Both sides are to feature packed midfields from the outset, which could make for a scrappy opening half. However, both teams possess an abundance of individual talent; meaning that the game has the potential to sway either way depending on who turns up earliest.
Talk has been rife in the buildup to tonight's clash, with Monaco's Rodriguez stating that he is prepared to fight to the death in order to help AS lift the title this season. Here's what he had to say to reporters earlier this week:
"All of us want to reach the top but we know that Paris are on a completely different level," Rodriguez told reporters ahead of the clash.
"They have more players but we're going to try and fight them to the end and hope that Monaco can win the league.
"That's the dream we all have. Personally I'll fight until the death because I know we can win the title."
PSG go into the game on the back of their 2-1 Coupe de la Ligue victory over Nantes in the week, with Ibrahimovic scoring twice to ensure that the Parisians made it into the final of the tournament.
Both sides have found things a little tougher going in the league of late, with Monaco putting together a mixed bag of results, which include a recent 2-2 draw with Lorient and a 2-0 victory at home to Marseilles.
PSG go into tonight's match having scored 54 goals this season, having only conceded 15 and keeping 11 clean sheets.
Meanwhile the hosts have bagged 38 goals, while conceding 16 and keeping the same number of clean sheets as the Parisians.
PSG have only beat Monaco three times in recent history, though, with the sides sharing the spoils in their last Ligue 1 encounter following a 1-1 draw in September 2013.
From a personal perspective, I think PSG are going to take all three points this evening. For all of their faults when playing in supposedly lesser games, the Parisians tend to turn up for the big occasions - take their Champions League encounters with Barcelona last season, for example... Blanc's men have spent the whole season breaking down sides who tend to setup with large numbers in defence and midfield. They also have pace on the flanks in the shape of Lucas, as well as the brilliantly talented Ibrahimovic up front.
That's not to say that Monaco don't stand a chance tonight, for they have the in-form striker Emmanuel Riviere to call upon, as well as big game players in the shape of Moutinho, Toulalan and Ricardo Carvalho.
We're only a few minutes away from kick off here at the Stade Louis II, as the legendary George Weah sets himself to introduce the teams with a specially-tailored presentation.
Here we go then, PSG get us underway, with the visitors kicking from left to right in the first half.
PSG start the game in their usual fashion, passing the ball along their back-line in a somewhat subdued fashion as they wait for their midfielders to pull into space.
Moutinho looks up for this as he rushes in on Lucas and catches the winger with a late challenge. A sign of things to come?
Monaco have the ball for the first time tonight and they look to play it around at the back as they seek to settle into the game.
Ocampos is aggrieved as he breaks down the left and beats van der Wiel, however the defender gets back to make the challenge and somehow wins a throw, despite being the last man to touch the ball. A little unfair on the Monaco winger, I'd say...
A fiesty start here at the Stade Louis II, with both sides throwing themselves into every tackle. Monaco win a free kick just inside the PSG half, but the set-piece is unable to find Riviere, who looks to run in behind the defence.
GOAL! GOAL! AS Monaco 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Javier Pastore)
PSG take the lead in under 10 minutes. The goal comes from a corner, with Javier Pastore gambling in the box to get to the back post where he is free to head the ball home as it comes through a group of bodies and deflects off of Toulalan. Monaco will have their work cut out now.
The goal seems to have inspired the hosts to increase their tempo and it almost pays off following a scramble inside the box, however the resulting shot from the edge of the area is turned away by the boot of Silva.
PSG are slightly under pressure now as Monaco whip in a corner, which is cleared away desperately by the left foot of Maxwell.
SAVE! Ocampos almost pulls Monaco level as he fires in a shot from the edge of the area, leaving Sirigu to make a good save down low. Riviere tries to pounce onto the rebound, but he can only stab the ball wide under pressure from the PSG defence.
PSG are looking to take the sting out of this encounter now, as they win the ball back and begin to circulate it around their defence.
CHANCE! Ibrahimovic should score, really. Pastore and Maxwell team-up to break down the left, where the ball is cut across the box into the path of the Swedish striker, who can only force his shot wide of goal instead of finding the net with a side-footed finish.
The visitors have worked their corners well so far, knocking it short and looking to draw out the defence before sending a ball into the box. This time it comes short to Verratti, however his delivery is poor and doesn't clear the first man.
PSG move the ball nicely as Motta feeds the play out wide to Pastore, who then brings in Maxwell, but the final ball is wasteful and runs out for a goal-kick.
Ocampos has looked the most likely to create something for the hosts. This time he produces some neat skill to beat his man and send a ball towards the back-post, however Riviere is unable to get his head to it and PSG clear the danger.
SAVE! Monaco concede a needless free kick on the edge of their box as Verratti is brought down. Ibrahimovic steps up and rifles a shot towards goal, leaving the AS keeper to get down low and palm the ball away for a corner.
Great work from van der Wiel as he gets across to block Ocampos, who looked set to open up his body and fire a shot towards goal. That was a great interception as the Argentine winger looked to have both time and space to his advantage.
Maxwell is getting too much space on the left wing when he breaks forward from the full-back position. This time he is found just inside the Monaco half, but his cross towards Ibrahimovic is disappointing and is cleared away at the first attempt.
This game doesn't seem beyond Monaco just yet, they've worked the ball well in and around the PSG box when they've had possession.
CLOSE! And just as I say that... Pastore works his way into the box having beaten Abidal, however he decides to blast a shot off target instead of squaring to Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic collects the ball in a deep position and he looks to feed Maxwell who breaks down the left flank, but the striker's ball is far too heavy and runs out of play without causing too many problems.
Pastore has been impressive in this opening half, as he looks to open up the play in both of the wide positions. This time he tries a sweeping ball for van der Wiel down the right, though the defender is just a little too slow to make the most of the through ball.
Ibrahimovic has a go from 35 yards following a free kick. The big Swede hovers over the ball before sending in a drilled effort, which is deflected comfortably into the hands of Subasic in the Monaco goal.
YELLOW CARD! (James Rodriguez)
Rodriguez is given a yellow for a poor lunge on Ibrahimovic, before Marco Verratti is also shown a card for a late tackle in the middle of the pitch as PSG look to regain possession.
Not much in the way of chances in these final few minutes of the first half. Rodriguez tries something special from distance, but his volleyed effort flies straight into the body of Motta who looks to shield the PSG goal.
Ibrahimovic is fuming! He thinks Matuidi should move the ball a little quicker as the striker looks to make a run in behind the defence. Instead, the midfielder holds on for too long and the Swedish frontman is judged to be offside as he nips in behind Carvalho.
CLOSE! PSG almost carve out a second goal as Lucas finds van der Wiel breaking down the right. The defender collects the pass with ease, but his cross into the box is cleared away.
HALF TIME: AS Monaco 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain
So PSG find themselves in the lead at the Stade Louis II and they probably deserve it. They've been a little more adventurous than the hosts, with Pastore and Ibrahimovic looking to take the game to their opponents in the opening half.
There haven't been too many chances, however, with the visitors taking the only real clear-cut opportunity in tonight's encounter.
Ocampos has been sprightly for Monaco, with the winger looking the most likely cause for concern amongst the PSG defence. His strike midway through the half opened up a good half-chance for Riviere, who could only stab the ball wide.
Pastore's first goal in 20 hours of football seemed to fire the hosts up a little, with Ranieri's men responding well to going a goal down. They've worked the ball nicely in attack when they've had possession, but haven't been able to break down PSG's defence as yet.
Monaco could and should really be two goals down, with Ibrahimovic missing a guilt-edged chance, having been picked out by Maxwell's cross into the box.
The players are making their way out onto the pitch as we await the start of the second half... Will PSG go on to secure all three points, or have Monaco got something in reserve to help rescue their seemingly languishing season?
HIstory could favour PSG in the second half, with the visitors not giving up any points this season after going a goal ahead.
Monaco get the game back underway, as they kick from left to right in their red and white home strip.
For some obscure reason, Ranieri has decided to bring Ocampos off and replace him with Kondogbia at half time. Odd decision for me, as the Argentine winger was probably Monaco's standout performer in the first half.
Sirigu does well to clear the ball from a corner, it's not the best punch you'll see, but the PSG keeper does just about enough under pressure in his own box.
A rather slow start to the second half here as both sides look to find their feet. Abidal looks a little cumbersome as he knocks the ball off of Carvalho to concede a needless corner.
CLOSE! Big chance from resulting corner as the cross finds Ibrahimovic, who climbs highest in the box. However the striker is perhaps up a little too early and can't direct his header on target. He would have buried that on another day.
Industrious play from Lucas sees PSG win a free kick in a dangerous position. The visitors are being given too much time on the flanks, with their full-backs in acres of space to impact the play.
SAVE! Ibrahimovic almost doubles PSG's advantage as he crashes the free kick towards the bottom corner of the goal, yet Subasic has other ideas as he gets across to tip the ball wide of the post.
Monaco are yet to really threaten in this second period, with their latest attempt from distance hit straight against the towering Alex. The hosts then claim the ball again and send in a cross towards Kondogbia, leaving Sirigu to rush out and clear the danger with his fists.
CHANCE Penalty? Riviere climbs to challenge Sirigu as Silva comes across to try and barge the striker out of the way of his goalkeeper. For some strange reason, Sirigu misses the ball at his first attempt, but recovers just in time to claim it with a second go...
SUBSTITUTE: Germain is replaced by Dimitar Berbatov, who comes on to make his home debut for the hosts.
SUBSTITUTE: PSG also make two changes as Verratti is replaced by Yohan Cabaye and Pastore by Jeremy Menez.
The visitors have really reduced the tempo of this encounter in the second half. Motta looks to put his foot on the ball as PSG try to wear down their opponents by maintaining steady possession.
Things are getting a little scrappy following those substitutions. Neither side have created much to go by in the second period, though Monaco are keeping themselves in the encounter.
PSG continue to work their carousel of passes in and around the Monaco box, but nothing seems to want to give as the hosts shuffle across to mirror their opponents. Lucas gets bored of working the ball as he unleashes a shot from long distance, which flies straight into the arms of Subasic.
GOAL! GOAL! AS Monaco 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain (Thiago Silva OG)
And out of the blue Monaco find their reply... Rodriguez does brilliantly to find Fabio Tavares out on the right flank. The full-back sends in a delivery towards the near post, where Thiago Silva slides in to try and divert the ball away, but instead turns it into his own net.
Not much Silva could really do about that goal... He had to come across to make the challenge otherwise it would've been a free-for-all for Monaco in the PSG box. Not too sure that goal changes much unless the hosts can get another, Monaco really need all three points tonight if they want to change the outcome of the Ligue 1 title.
It looks as though PSG want to kill things off tonight, though, as they press forward in search of a winner in the final 10 minutes.
Berbatov takes a slack touch first time, but manages to somehow win a corner off of Silva. The resulting delivery is turned in towards goal, where Ibrahimovic is lingering to head the ball away from danger.
Is someone going to take this game by the scruff off the neck in the closing minutes? My gut feeling is that Monaco really need to go for the victory. A win would see them move within two points of PSG...
Menez does well to beat Fabio Tavares down the left, but his cross is wayward and loops over every attacking player in the box.
SAVE! Menez falls asleep in defence as Fabio Tavares peels off around the back. He's picked out by a sublime through ball, but takes too many touches before firing straight at Sirigu in the PSG goal. That could've changed the outcome of their season! A real big miss...
CHANCE! Ibrahimovic almost pushes PSG further ahead in their pursuit of the title, as he brings down a ball out of the air before crashing a shot straight at Subasic. We're set for three minutes of added time here.
FULL TIME: AS Monaco 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain
Honours even at the Stade Louis II then. PSG will be quite happy with that as they still remain five points clear at the top of the table. However, that late chance from Ibrahimovic could've made things a little more comfortable for the Parisians going into the final stages of the Ligue 1 season.
You can't help but feel Monaco missed a trick in the final minutes. They did well to stay within touching distance throughout the game and failed to capitalise on their position as the clock ticked down. They'll now have to rely on PSG dropping points in their remaining games.
Perhaps this was a good result for the league in general? At least Monaco still remain in the running for the title... Anything is better than a one-horse race, surely...
Written by
Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
