Football: PSG beat Monaco but goalkeeper injured by cleat to the face

news wires

Wed, 18 Dec 2024, 7:34 pm·2-min read

Monaco's Ivorian defender #17 Wilfried Singo (L) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's French forward #10 Ousmane Dembele during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at the Louis II Stadium (Stade Louis II) in the Principality of Monaco on December 18, 2024.

Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma suffered a facial injury after being hit by an opponent's cleat in the team's 4-2 Ligue 1 win over Monaco on Wednesday.

Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away to Monaco on Wednesday but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury.

The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after suffering lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo.

"I don't know if the referee was badly positioned but VAR needed to intervene, you have to protect the players," said PSG captain Marquinhos.

"To not give a red in a situation like that, it's a big call."

Singo avoided any punishment for his clumsy but unintentional collision as Donnarumma was replaced by Matvey Safonov before Desire Doue gave PSG the lead with his first league goal for the reigning champions.

That came after Achraf Hakimi rattled the post with an intended cross, but Monaco hit back with two goals in seven second-half minutes.

Eliesse Ben Seghir converted a penalty awarded for a handball by Marquinhos to level.

Maghnes Akliouche then crossed for Breel Embolo to poke Monaco in front on the hour and put PSG's record 31-game unbeaten Ligue 1 away run in jeopardy.

Ousmane Dembele soon equalised and Goncalo Ramos headed in a corner shortly after coming on to swing the match back in PSG's favour.

(AFP)