Folarin Balogun scored for the seventh consecutive time in Ligue 1, and Paul Pogba made his return from injury, but AS Monaco suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Paris FC on Friday.
Paris FC took control of the match early, scoring three goals within the first 24 minutes, effectively ending Monaco’s impressive seven-game winning streak.
Balogun managed to pull one back for Monaco in the 36th minute, continuing his impressive streak and becoming the first player since Neymar with Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 to score in seven straight matches in France’s premier division.
He is now just one match away from equaling Monaco’s record for the most consecutive Ligue 1 games scored in, which is jointly held by Shabani Nonda and Rony Lopes.
Pogba made his long-awaited return from a persistent left calf injury, coming off the bench in the 69th minute for his first appearance since early December.
The 2018 World Cup champion joined Monaco on a two-year deal last summer but had only played around 30 minutes since his debut at the end of November before this match.
“We’re watching what’s happening in training, and against a well-organized defense, I believe Paul offers us that technical flair and a spark,” said Monaco coach Sébastien Pocognoli.
“Unfortunately, we conceded a goal just five minutes after he came on, which disrupted our plans. Still, it’s great to see our injured players returning.”
Jonathan Ikoné scored twice, with Ciro Immobile adding another to put Paris FC firmly in control. Substitute Luca Koleosho added the fourth goal in the 71st minute, extending the club’s impressive form under coach Antoine Kombouaré, who took over in late February.
Paris FC has been unbeaten in six matches since Kombouaré’s arrival, earning 12 points from a possible 18.
This loss is a significant blow for Monaco, which currently sits fifth in the standings as it pursues a place in next season’s Champions League.
The top three teams qualify directly for the Champions League, while the fourth place team must go through qualifying rounds.
“We faced a well-drilled team with an effective system and paid the price today,” Pocognoli reflected. “At the same time, maybe our recent good form led to overconfidence, and conceding three goals in the first 20 minutes showed that we didn’t adhere to our tactical plan for the week.”
Report contributed by ESPN Research and The Associated Press.