To provide our readers with richer content, we’ve launched a new section analyzing key moments in a match, whether goals scored or conceded, skillful plays, missed opportunities, or other examples. The aim is to determine the degree of collective or individual success, or error, in each action. Here’s the latest installment. This particular sequence focuses on the 1-0 defeat against Monaco during Matchday 14 of the 2025-2026 Ligue 1 season. It shows the opening goal conceded, with numerous errors.
The situation before Nuno Mendes’ misplaced pass.
For the moment, PSG has maintained possession thanks to a good intervention from João Neves and a cutback pass to Nuno Mendes. The left-back has many options. Willian Pacho drops back, Matvey Safonov is unmarked, he can take a risk with Achraf Hakimi if he wants to switch sides quickly, and there’s even Khvicha Kvaratskhelia pushing forward. The Portuguese player attempted one of the latter two options but missed, sending the ball into midfield to Simon Adingra.
Notably, there’s a major misunderstanding in midfield between Vitinha and Warren Zaïre-Emery. They’re both going to the same area and getting in each other’s way. One of them should have moved into the middle to offer Mendes an option, while also maintaining balance since Neves is on the far left. It’s strange that both midfielders are in the same position. Even though Mendes seems to have already chosen his pass, it creates a problem for defending afterwards. It’s worth noting that Vitinha could also have taken advantage of Zaire-Emery’s presence to try a more attacking option, even if it doesn’t seem ideal either.
The situation when space is created on the wing.
The most striking thing here is that Marquinhos is shown very high up the pitch on Adingra. The center-back has moved out of defense. Some are shocked, but this is also PSG’s philosophy, and it’s far from the first time. Except that not all the Parisians seem to be on the same page this time. Achraf Hakimi, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes are running backwards.
It’s an understandable caution, but it also invites them to absorb pressure in a way. Hakimi could have been facing the play to try and disrupt the game down his flank. Pacho could have moved more towards Aleksandr Golovin, and Nuno Mendes towards Folarin Balogun in the center. But they instead choose to anticipate the depth (perhaps the goalkeeper could be positioned higher up the pitch, but we don’t know his exact location).
Finally, we note that Nuno Mendes sees Balogun at this point in the play; he’s even in front of him for several more seconds. It’s even stranger to then let him get behind him.
The situation at the moment of the cross.
Golovin was played in on the left. Pacho logically came out to meet him to prevent him from reaching the goal, and the cross was chosen. As mentioned above, Nuno Mendes let Balogun get behind him. This is a risk, but it’s also a way to prevent a powerful low cross.
The biggest problem, especially with Maghnes Akliouche advancing to the far post, is that everyone seems to be defending like a ground ball, as if that were the only option. This wasn’t the case for Balogun, and even less so with Akliouche included.
Pacho is close to Golovin, Zaïre-Emery is positioned further back, even Neves is at the edge of the box. So why is Vitinha stopping? You have to take in the information and see that the Monaco players are charging towards the far post. Matvey Safonov’s positioning is also questionable, as we’ve often seen with Lucas Chevalier: he’s very far forward at the near post.
Yet, a shot from that angle is difficult and doesn’t require such cover. Furthermore, he’s one of those players who can gather information to adjust his positioning, or even pass it on to his teammates. Everyone was defending the near post; it could have been positioned a little further back, facing the play more, and preventing a high cross into its six-yard box. Not to mention protecting itself in case of a surprise shot.
As we’ve seen in the media and commentary, Nuno Mendes is clearly at fault. Marquinhos’ decision to come off his line might be questioned, as he could have been more cautious given the situation (the midfielders weren’t positioned), but they are far from being solely responsible. As is often the case, it’s a collective effort.
