PSG 1-1 Monaco: Five things we learned as Silva salvages point

Cavani scored but Monaco hit back in stoppage time

Sunday evening’s top of the table clash in Paris had plenty of late drama as Edinson Cavani’s penalty looked to have blown the title race wide open until Bernardo Silva salvaged a draw in stoppage time. Here’s what we made of it all.

1. Monaco stay top but Nice the real winners

The game was heading for a draw, when Djibril Sidibe had a little tug on Julian Draxler, the new signing went down and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Up stepped Edinson Cavani, who had been having one of those nights, but put it all to one side to smash the kick home and give the hosts all three points. Except, Bernardo Silva had other ideas, firing home in stoppage time to save Monaco and rescue a 1-1 draw. The point puts Monaco back on top level with Nice, but with a superior goal difference and they are now 13/8 to be crowned champions. PSG, meanwhile are four points behind and it may just feel like a defeat with Silva’s goal coming so late.

2. Draxler the difference for PSG

January signings rarely work out, so we are told, but try telling that to Julian Draxler who has made an instant impact at PSG. The Germany international  scored on his debut against Bastia, scored again on his Ligue 1 debut against Rennes and proved the difference yet again on Sunday. It was Draxler who won the penalty, converted confidently by Cavani , for PSG’s opener. He was replaced late on by another January signing Goncalo Guedes, and PSG will be hoping he can have a similar effect following his switch from Benfica.

3. Cavani misfires when it matters

Five goal in eight days, the first player in Europe’s top five big leagues to reach 20 goals for the season but still Cavani can frustrate. The Uruguayan international was PSG’s goalscorer but he was wasteful throughout. The 29-year-old smashed an early effort high, wide and certainly not very handsome, flicked a tame header straight at Danijel Subašić  and had another chance which was crying out for a header but which he tried to take on the stretch and failed. While he made no mistake from 12 yards, his profligacy may just come back to haunt PSG

4. Monaco give Man City plenty to ponder

Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta were spotted watching the game from the stands as they start to make plans for their Champions League encounter with Monaco. When the draw was made, many may have felt that City had received a favourable draw, but Leonardo Jardim side’s form, coupled with City’s defensive vulnerabilities may just be giving Guardiola a few sleepless nights. Monaco have already sent Spurs packing in Europe and will certainly fancy their chances of doing exactly the same to City.

5. Trapp injury a big blow to PSG

The sight of the PSG goalkeeper hobbling off after 54 minutes will surely have filled Unai Emery with dread. The 26-year-old had not been overly busy against Monaco with a Fabinho effort that he tipped over perhaps his hardest work of the night. However, he appeared to injure his hamstring after making a save from Thomas Lemar and could not continue. Alphonse Areola was quickly summoned and looked to have kept a clean sheet until Silva’s late, late goal. The goalkeeper’s positioning will surely be questioned even though he may be given the benefit of the doubt with Silva’s shot coming through Thiago Silva’s legs. In any case with a Champions League tie against Barcelona looming, PSG will be eager to get their No.1 back as soon as possible.