Monaco Beat PSG to Preserve Perfect Start After Deadline-Day Turmoil

What happened

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Monaco came from behind to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at the Parc des Princes on Friday, preserving the only perfect record in Ligue 1 after three rounds. The Guardian reported that Nazinho and Stanis Idumbo scored Monaco's goals after PSG had taken the lead. The result moved Monaco to nine points, two clear of Lyon, Paris FC, Lille and Rennes.

The victory completed a striking week for the club. Monaco retained midfielder Lamine Camara and striker Folarin Balogun after proposed deadline-day departures failed to happen. According to the Guardian, Balogun opted to stay rather than join Everton despite an agreement between the clubs. Monaco also agreed to sell Camara to Chelsea before reversing course when the French transfer window had closed and a planned replacement was no longer available.

Neither outcome matched Monaco's financial plan. The report said the club had made commitments to French football's financial watchdog, the DNCG, to lower its wage bill and generate significant transfer income. Chief executive Thiago Scuro subsequently said Monaco would have to find other solutions, while head coach Filipe Luís described a squad with too many centre-forwards, insufficient midfield cover and no recognised right-winger following Maghnes Akliouche's move to PSG.

Why it matters

On the field, keeping Camara and Balogun gives Monaco two major assets for a campaign that has started flawlessly. Camara delivered an excellent second-half performance against PSG despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. Balogun, Monaco's leading scorer last season, has missed the opening matches but is expected to return soon.

Monaco have won their first five fixtures in all competitions and scored 12 goals without Balogun. Their three league victories put them seven points ahead of defending champions PSG, who are 14th after drawing two of their first three matches and losing to Monaco. The early table remains compact, but Monaco have already secured a valuable away win against the team expected to set the domestic standard.

The transfer situation complicates that sporting momentum. Retaining two important players strengthened Luís's immediate options, yet the club did not bank the anticipated fees or complete the intended reshaping of the squad. The same deadline outcome that improved Monaco's short-term competitive outlook therefore left financial and roster issues unresolved.

Tournament impact

Monaco are the only Ligue 1 team to have won all three league matches this season. Their maximum return gives them an early advantage before the schedule deepens and European commitments place more strain on the squad. The win in Paris also provides evidence that their start is not solely the product of a favourable fixture list.

PSG remain strong favourites to recover over a long campaign, and three matches are not enough to establish a lasting title hierarchy. Monaco nevertheless control the early pace and have achieved it under a new coach. The Guardian noted that even Arsène Wenger did not begin his Monaco tenure with a better sequence of results than Luís.

What to watch

The next phase will show how Monaco manage both the imbalance identified by Luís and the financial consequences described by Scuro. Balogun's return could deepen an already productive attack, while Camara's form will remain central to midfield performance. Any plan to meet the club's financial commitments must now be pursued outside the closed French transfer window or through later business.

Source note

Match details, league standings, transfer context and club comments were reported by The Guardian on 7 September 2026: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/07/monaco-best-players-top-ligue-1-psg