Press review: Monaco v PSG, French clash in Europe and captain Marquinhos | OneFootball

This Tuesday, February 17, the French press (from a sporting perspective) focused on Paris Saint-Germain’s trip to face AS Monaco tonight at the Stade Louis II (kick-off at 9pm, broadcast on Canal+) in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League play-offs (the return leg will be on February 25 at the Parc des Princes). There is also the captain Marquinhos (31-year-old defender).

Le Parisien –

L’Equipe –

PSG is always expected to perform, especially after a defeat and particularly when they have to play in the Champions League. The pressure is on their shoulders tonight, while Monaco is clearly the underdog. Be careful, the Monegasques have been very solid at home this season on the European stage, and managed to secure a 1-0 victory in Ligue 1 against Paris in December.

They need to be wary of a frustrating match, especially since the Parisians have doubts and tensions to put behind them after several difficult results with a recurring scenario: a lack of efficiency that comes at a cost. This is partly due to certain choices, which is particularly annoying. It’s time to rediscover the collective spirit that allowed them to win titles last season. There’s no need to worry or dramatize just yet, but PSG must stop tripping themselves up.

We trust Marquinhos to instill the right mindset in his group. He has often and for a long time been criticized, seen as responsible for a PSG that disappoints collectively. The idea that he is afraid during big matches has been unfairly established. Now that he has won the Champions League, the Brazilian has gained a bit of media peace. And everyone at PSG highlights his important role. We also often see him talking during matches. A bit less after the match. But maybe that’s for the best, considering what was triggered by Ousmane Dembélé’s (28-year-old forward) statements.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.