PSG vs Monaco Prediction: A repeat of December as Camara picks up card in defeat

Friday night football in France's Ligue 1 comes from the Parc des Princes this week as defending champions and runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain host third-place AS Monaco in the capital (20:05). Both sides enjoyed big wins last time out in the competition, PSG blitzing Brest 5-2 last Saturday and Monaco beating Auxerre 4-2 in the principality.

Below is my PSG vs Monaco prediction, supported by all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

PSG midfielders Joao Neves (foot) and Warren Zaire-Emery (ankle) missed their side's win over Brest and subsequent Coupe de France victory at Le Mans (0-2) on Tuesday and are considered doubts for Friday's game.

Ibrahim Mbaye (ankle) is Luis Enrique's only other injury concern.

The Spaniard must decide, though, who to field as his front three on Friday. Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola have both been in sensational goalscoring form of late and should be nailed-on starters at the Parc des Princes after beginning PSG's midweek cup tie on the bench.

Big-money January arrival, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, played the full 90 at the Stade Marie-Marvingt but may edge out Desire Doue and Goncalo Ramos to start on Friday.

Football Odds

Monaco are missing Folarin Balogun (shoulder), Wilfried Singo (muscle), Jordan Teze (thigh) and George Ilenikhena (groin) for the trip to Paris, while Aleksandr Golovin (ankle) is a doubt after being withdrawn at half-time last weekend.

January signing Mike Biereth, who hit a hat-trick against Auxerre, is set to lead the line again at the expense of Breel Embolo.

PSG vs Monaco Odds

PSG are unbeaten in all competitions across their last 15 games and arrive into Friday's contest as strong favourites, with odds of 2/5 handing the hosts an implied win probability of 71.4%. Monaco, meanwhile, are priced at 11/2, or a 15.4% chance, to triumph at the Parc des Princes for the first time since February 2021.

The draw is available at 9/2, both teams to score at 8/15, and over 3.5 total goals at 10/11.

Dembele has scored back-to-back hat-tricks, netting 14 goals in his last eight games, and is the 19/20 favourite - alongside teammate Ramos - to strike at any time on Friday, with Biereth (9/4) first up for the visitors.

Player to Receive a Card - Lamine Camara (MON) @ 13/5

Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara has made himself an integral member of the side's starting XI since moving from Metz last summer, impressing with some industrious displays in the middle of the park.

On occasion, though, the 21-year-old can go over the top, as evidenced by the seven yellow cards he has picked up in Ligue 1 this term; only Lille's Benjamin Andre (nine) and Montpellier pair Modibo Sagnan and Rabby Nzingoula (both eight) have been shown more, although none of those three have received a red like Camara has for two bookable offences against Lyon in August.

One of Camara's seven yellows in the competition came in December's reverse fixture at the Stade Louis II as PSG beat Monaco 4-2 in the principality. The Senegal international was booked in the 29th minute for a foul on Vitinha, one of two unfair challenges he committed on the day.

Camara is averaging a whopping 1.9 fouls per game in Ligue 1 this season while he has also been booked twice in the Uefa Champions League in eight appearances.

With the likes of Joao Neves and Kvaratskhelia, fouled 1.3 and two times per game on average, respectively, to try and contain on Friday, Camara might be forced to make a couple more fouls that could see him end up in the referee's notebook once more.

Match Result & Both Teams to Score - PSG & Yes @ 11/8

PSG have been in superb form over the last couple of months, winning five of their last six league games, and are still unbeaten after 20 games in the competition this season.

The Parisians hold a 10-point advantage over nearest challengers Marseille, while Monaco are three points further back, and the Ligue 1 title race already looks to be wrapped up.

However, while PSG are way out in front, they haven't been infallible, as evidenced by the fact that, alongside Nantes and OGC Nice, they top the Ligue 1 'Both Teams to Score' table, with 75 per cent (15) of their 20 league games seeing at least one goal on either side.

Luis Enrique's team has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six Ligue 1 matches, the second of which was their 4-2 victory over Monaco who have seen both teams score in 65 per cent (13) of their league contests including their last five, two of which they have lost.

After netting seven times across their last two games in the French top flight, and putting two past PSG in the reverse fixture, I can definitely see Monaco scoring on Friday.

However, this is a fixture PSG have dominated in recent years and they've already beaten Les Rouge et Blanc twice this season, once in Ligue 1 and once in the Trophee des Champions. The Parisians have been rampant in front of goal over the past few weeks and I fear for the visitors' defence at the Parc des Princes.

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