1-2 Upset! PSG Collapse at Home, Suffer Worst Ligue 1 Start in 12 Years

A familiar storyline, but with an unfamiliar ending. On September 5 Beijing time, in Ligue 1 Round 3, Paris Saint-Germain hosted Monaco. Marquinhos opened the scoring with a header, Nazinho equalized, and Idumbo fired from a tight angle to complete the comeback. When the final whistle blew, PSG had fallen 1-2 at home in a shock defeat. After three matches, they had one draw and two losses, collecting only one point and recording their worst Ligue 1 start in 12 years.

People expected poor form, but not to this extent. Going winless in the league is hard to explain for a team that has dominated Ligue 1 for years. After the match, Enrique likely had little patience left and the team needed serious reflection and adjustments. PSG cannot assume the league title will come easily; complacency will eventually bring consequences. Three winless matches have served as a warning for the entire squad.

The match exposed PSG's problems in detail. Kvaratskhelia delivered a precise cross from the left, allowing Marquinhos to break the deadlock. After taking the lead, PSG once again slowed the tempo, passing the ball patiently as if a 1-0 advantage was already secure. But in the 58th minute, Teze crossed from the right and Nazinho easily equalized. In the 72nd minute, Idumbo scored from a tight angle to put Monaco ahead, with PSG's defense showing clear weaknesses. Dembélé's assist for Ferran's goal was ruled offside, and a late long-range effort went wide. Throughout the match, PSG looked like a team that had not fully entered the rhythm of the game, moving slowly and lacking energy.

Some fans joked: “As long as Paris are not more than 15 points behind, they can definitely catch up. Wait until the winter break and you will see, they will turn it around!” It sounds relaxed, but the question is—how do you know they will not fall 15 points behind? Other fans pointed out: “PSG does not really attract many deeply loyal fans in China. Even if they are great in the Champions League, that only covers a few matches each season. Truly committed fans watch the league. Ligue 1 already has limited competition and inconvenient match times, while PSG often take things easy in the league. Fans waking up in the middle of the night to watch a poor performance—what is the point?”

From a tactical perspective, PSG's problems go far beyond attitude. Last season, whether against Chelsea in the UEFA Nations League or Bayern in the Champions League, the Portuguese midfield duo showed clear limitations in controlling matches during difficult periods. They are at a physical disadvantage, can be targeted by opponents, lose positioning during chaotic phases, and lack the ability to break through defensive pressure consistently. Enrique's tactical approach shares similarities with Flick and Klopp's philosophy: sacrificing some stability in exchange for attacking efficiency during chaotic situations. This approach helped PSG achieve two consecutive Champions League titles, partly because Enrique fits well with this group of players, and partly because many other elite clubs are rebuilding and unable to directly challenge PSG. But Ligue 1 is different; when opponents sit deep defensively, PSG's chaotic attacking style often struggles to find a way through.

In addition, the Portuguese duo and Fabián Ruiz have accumulated significant workloads with the national team, while PSG's highly fluid positional rotation system requires a very high level of coordination. Their difficult start is therefore not entirely unexpected.

What does three consecutive draws mean? It would represent a Ligue 1 opening stretch PSG have not experienced since 2012. PSG have fallen, and the manner of the collapse was somewhat dramatic—but their fans certainly cannot find it amusing. The pressure is now directly on Enrique.