Monaco 0-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Kylian Mbappe subbed off at half-time as Ligue 1 champions held to draw

Kylian Mbappe was substituted at half time as the France star’s final visit to his old stomping ground with PSG ended in a 0-0 draw at Monaco.

The hosts were the better side throughout the first period but some inspired goalkeeping from Gianluigi Donnarumma denied the likes of Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun.

Mbappe had cut a peripheral figure in the visitors’ attack and was surprisingly replaced at the interval after the visitors managed just three touches in the hosts’ penalty area, their lowest since making a mere two in a clash at Bordeaux eight years ago.

Monaco went close again when Wissam Ben Yedder cracked the crossbar with a sizzling volley just shy of the hour while PSG actually looked a greater threat in the absence of Mbappe.

Vitinha forced a smart save out of Radoslaw Majecki but despite applying sustained late pressure, the away team could not snatch the victory.

The result moves PSG 12 points clear of second-placed Brest having played a game more. Monaco, who missed the chance to climb to second, remain third.

PSG will now switch focus to their UEFA Champions League last 16, second leg at Real Sociedad.

It wasn’t a full-strength PSG and they appeared particularly vulnerable at the back for the first hour, with Donnarumma key to the reigning champions escaping from the Principality unscathed.

The draw extends Paris’ unbeaten run to 19 league matches and also sees them set a new club record courtesy of a 19th domestic game without defeat on the road.

Indeed, glory on home turf remains highly probable but it’s in the UEFA Champions League where the club really want to thrive and they will want to defend better in Sociedad as they look to protect a 2-0 lead on aggregate and reach the last eight.

The headlines will focus on Mbappe’s withdrawal for a second straight league game, and once again his team-mates seemed to play better in his absence. Enrique has made it clear PSG need to look towards the future when the 25-year-old moves to Real Madrid and he’ll see positives in what his younger players have shown in recent matches.

The Italian stopper produced a series of top-class saves to emerge as the key protagonist in earning a hard-fought point.

MONACO: Majecki 7, Singo 8, Maripan 8, Kehrer 8, Ouattara 8, Fofana 8, Minamino 8, Akliouche 7, Golovin 7, Ben Yedder 8, Balogun 7. Subs: Ben Seghir 6,

PSG: Donnarumma 9, Hakimi 8, Mukiele 7, Beraldo 7, Hernandez 7, Ugarte 7, Vitinha 8, Soler 7, Asensio 6, Mbappe 6, Ramos 6. Subs: Barcola 8, Kolo Muani 7, Mendes 7, Dembele 7, Lee Kang-In n/a.

05’ – MONACO CHANCE! Balogun is first to show as he bursts into the right side of the area and forces a smart save out of Donnarumma at his near post.

30’ – MONACO CHANCE! Donnarumma comes to PSG's rescue with a magnificent stop to keep out Minamino before Golovin's goal-bound follow-up is blocked to safety.

58’ – MONACO CHANCE! Ben Yedder's explosive Van Basten-style volley crashes back off the crossbar after Minamino had picked him out on the far left of the area.

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