Trophee des Champions | Final

Jan 5, 2025 at 4.30pm UK

Stadium 974

PSG vs Monaco

Match preview

Luis Enrique's PSG won a record-extending 12th Trophee des Champions title last January when they beat Toulouse 2-0 at the Parc des Princes, and this time around they will be looking to start 2025 on a high by making it 13 with victory in their first game of the year.

Having won their last four games in all competitions before the winter break and lost just once since the start of November, Les Parisiens will go into Doha full of confidence.

Adding to that sense of urgency is the fact that Sunday's nominal home side currently sit top of Ligue 1 - 10 points clear of Monaco - and picked up a 4-2 away win over this weekend's opponents in their last league game of the season.

Striker Desire Doue put Enrique's side ahead in the first half, but a penalty from Eliesse Ben Seghir and a goal from Breel Embolo put the hosts in front.

However, a brace from Ousmane Dembele either side of a Goncalo Ramos header gave PSG all three points and a psychological edge ahead of the Trophee des Champions final.

Monaco, meanwhile, have won the Trophee des Champions four times in their history and a fifth title would take them level with Saint-Etienne and Reims as the third most successful club in the competition.

However, Adi Hutter's men have won just one of their last four games in all competitions, and the coach will be hoping that winning silverware in their first game of 2025 will set the tone for a positive year.

Going into the winter break, Les Monegasques had won just one of their six matches before beating amateur side Union Saint-Jean 4-1 in the Coupe de France on 22 December.

That result ended a three-match winless streak for this weekend's away side, although the fact that they had to come up against such a lowly side to pick up a win will do little to boost the confidence of Hutter's players.

In the manager's defence, Monaco have been hit by an injury crisis this winter, and with seven players currently out injured or suspended, supporters will understand the team's disappointing recent form.

At the turn of the year, Les Monegasques will be looking to make a fresh start and rediscover their early-season form that saw them unbeaten in all competitions until the end of October, and a trophy along with a win over PSG would be a great start.

Recent Performance

Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions):DDWWWW

Monaco form (all competitions):LWLDLW

Team News

PSG coach Enrique will have a near full-strength squad to choose from, although there are doubts over the fitness of centre-back Presnel Kimpembe, who has been struggling with a lower leg injury.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is back in training after suffering a serious facial injury in the last league game against this weekend's opponents, but it remains to be seen whether the coach will hand him a starting berth.

If he is named on the bench, look for Matvey Safonov to start between the sticks, protected by Marquinhos and Willian Pacho.

As for Monaco, Hutter will be without a number of players, including Wilfried Singo, who is suspended after picking up one too many yellow cards.

Elsewhere, midfielder Denis Zakaria is not expected to return to action until later this month, although Edan Diop could be back in contention following a foot injury and Lamine Camara should be available after recovering from a knock he picked up in the defeat to Les Parisiens last month.

Les Monegasques will also be without right-back Christian Mawissa, goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki, winger Krepin Diatta and striker Folarin Balogun, who has not featured since early December.

Possible starting lineup

Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:

Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Dembele, Doue, Barcola

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Kohn; Teze, Kehrer, Salisu, Vanderson; Magassa, Camara; Akilouche, Ben Seghir, Golovin; Embolo