Wipe the smile off your face, Kylian! PSG look much better without Mbappe despite dopping points in draw with Monaco – as Luis Enrique row rages on

Paris Saint-Germain looked better off without Kylian Mbappe even as they played out a goalless draw with Monaco in Ligue 1 on Friday.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Monaco better team in first half
• Mbappe substituted at the break
• PSG held to 0-0 draw in Ligue 1

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  The outgoing forward did little to inspire his team amid their slow start to the clash at the Stade Louis-II as it was the home team who looked vastly more dangerous than the runaway Ligue 1 leaders. Luis Enrique made the crucial decision to take out Mbappe at the break instead of the completely absent Goncalo Ramos, and it was the Parisians who went on to take control as the game wore on.

  Even in the first half, PSG had the vast majority of the ball, ending the 45 minutes with 70 per cent possession. But as they did nothing with it, Monaco should have been ahead having forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into five saves before half-time.

  The second half started off with the same momentum as the first as Monaco burst into the PSG box quickly, but two quickfire shots from Ben Yedder were blocked and left them pleading unsuccessfully for a penalty. It was Ben Yedder who had the next magnificent chance when he volleyed towards goal but it smacked the bar.

  Then, it was PSG who were in full ascendancy as the decision to swap Mbappe looked justified, with Kolo Muani, Beraldo, Nordi Mukiele and Bradley Barcola all having shots from close range but failing to score. Vitinha then popped up with a strong effort, but Radoslaw Majecki was equal to it.

  In the end, it was both goalkeepers who proved to be the stars of the show with plenty of excellent saves, but Ben Yedder will be kicking himself for failing to convert any of his chances. Mbappe, meanwhile, should wipe the smile from his face after seeing his team look much stronger without him.

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  THE MVP

  Monaco were certainly the more dangerous team, but they came up against a brick wall named Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper was simply magnificent as he made a total of six saves to upset the determined hosts and rescue his own team's hollow midfield and lacklustre defence. Had it not been for him, they would have been far behind by half-time.

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  THE BIG LOSER

  Despite his efforts to fire Monaco to the lead, Ben Yedder just couldn't find any luck. He had shot after shot saved and blocked, plus two penalty appeals – one for handball and another when he was sandwiched in by two defenders – dismissed. A point against the Ligue 1 giants will be seen as a good result, but he should have made the difference.

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  WHAT COMES NEXT?

  After extending their unbeaten run to 20 games in all competitions, PSG will turn their attention to the second leg of their Champions League tie against Real Sociedad. They visit the Spanish side on Tuesday holding a 2-0 lead from the first fixture, giving them a big chance of booking a place in the quarter-finals.