September 7: Paris Saint-Germain Lose 1-2 to Monaco After Comeback, Take Just 2 Points in First Three Rounds and Sit One Point Above Relegation Zone; Enrique Responds to Team Situation

On September 5, 2026, Paris Saint-Germain were overturned 2-1 by Monaco at Parc des Princes. PSG have failed to win any of their first three Ligue 1 matches of the new season, marking the club's first winless start after three league games since 2012 and the first time Enrique's team has suffered three consecutive winless competitive matches.

In the previous two league matches, Paris drew 2-2 away against Rennes before being held to another draw at home. Combined with the 1-2 defeat, the team has only collected 2 points and sits 12th in the league, just one point above the relegation zone. Across their last four competitive matchdays, they only earned one victory, a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup, while their other four competitive matches, including a 0-1 defeat to Lens in the French Super Cup, all failed to produce a win in normal time.

This summer, South Korea international Lee Kang-in officially left Paris Saint-Germain to join Atletico Madrid. At the time, many fans did not view the transfer as an operation that would directly affect the team's league competitiveness, because PSG still had enough squad depth and the number of attacking options available to Enrique in midfield and attack remained among the highest in Europe.

However, judging from the team's actual performances since the start of the new season, the gaps left by Lee Kang-in's departure in forward movement, off-ball runs, and wing progression have not been fully replaced by new arrivals. PSG have often struggled with broken links between midfield and attack during positional play, and against compact defenses they have found it difficult to break through with consecutive short passing combinations.

PSG's average shot conversion rate over the first three league rounds is nearly 7 percentage points lower than the same period last season, with many half-chances that were previously converted reliably failing to become goals this season.

At the start of the match, PSG's attacking tempo was clearly higher than Monaco's. In the 17th minute, Marquinhos headed in from a set-piece opportunity to give the hosts a 1-0 lead, and the entire Parc des Princes crowd believed the team was finally on course for its first league victory of the new season.

However, after taking the lead, PSG did not tighten their defense in time and instead continued committing many players forward in search of a larger advantage. This directly gave Monaco space to counterattack. Monaco head coach Philippe took advantage of the gaps behind PSG's wide areas and adjusted the forward runs of his attacking players, gradually bringing the match back to an even balance in the latter part of the first half.

Less than ten minutes into the second half, Monaco equalized through a quick counterattack. PSG's defensive line showed clear positioning errors during the retreat, and the space between the two center-backs was exploited by Monaco's forward, who finished with a high-quality low shot.

After conceding, Enrique's adjustments came noticeably slowly, with his first substitution not arriving until the 72nd minute. Monaco maintained their pressing intensity after equalizing and completed the comeback in the 81st minute. PSG's midfield passing routes were completely blocked, Joao Neves made a passing error that handed possession to the opponent, and Monaco's attackers made no mistake, scoring with a low shot past Safonov.

In the remaining less than ten minutes, PSG earned several corner kicks and attacking free-kick opportunities, but they were unable to find the equalizer and ultimately accepted a 1-2 home defeat.

After this victory, Monaco won all three of their opening Ligue 1 matches and moved directly to the top of the league table with 9 points. They have now recorded five consecutive competitive victories, creating a sharp contrast with PSG's situation.

Although PSG have had occasional poor performances in individual league matches over recent seasons, they have never started a campaign with such continuous dropped points. The last time the club had only 2 points after three Ligue 1 rounds was in 2012, when it had just undergone a major ownership change and the squad was in the early stages of a large-scale rebuild. The current team has already won multiple Ligue 1 titles and secured the Champions League in the past two years, with much greater squad stability than in 2012, making this start far beyond preseason expectations.

Looking at the five matches already completed, PSG's problems are not limited to shortages in individual positions. The team's match tempo, defensive transition speed, and attacking efficiency have all declined, while many tactical combinations developed last season have repeatedly broken down this season.

After the match, Enrique did not place all the blame for the defeat on the players. He publicly stated that the team is going through a period requiring renewed adjustment and chemistry-building, and that everyone must take responsibility for the current results. The upcoming international break will provide a valuable window for the coaching staff to analyze and address specific issues within the squad.