The Parisians still suffered in sequences.

They were saved by the post early in the game, and took advantage of the opponent's big individual mistakes to score.

But they won, unlike their last two Championship meetings, against Nice (0-0) and Lens (1-1), where they displayed the same weaknesses.

The sign of progress in the game, the one that coach Mauricio Pochettino asks for at every press conference?

The debate remains open, as Paris oscillated during the evening.

But in the standings, PSG takes off, with 13 points ahead of its runner-up Marseille (which has one game less), with a meeting at the end of the first leg.

Such an accounting advance is enough to warm the Parc des Princes, very sad without the chants of the ultras, deprived of a stadium on Sunday for disciplinary reasons.

Mbappé still decisive

The other ray of sunshine came from a player.

It is not only in Abu Dhabi that the Formula 1 were out this weekend: in great shape, Mbappé made the Monegasques dizzy.

His accelerations created danger each time, especially at the start of the first period, while "Kylians, Kylians" were heard in the stadium.

In 45 minutes, he folded the race.

First with a penalty that he transformed (12th), after a foul by Djibril Sidibé on Angel Di Maria, reported by the VAR.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé opens the scoring on a penalty kick at home against Monaco, at the end of the 18th day of Ligue 1, December 12, 2021 at Parc des Princes Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

Then, at the conclusion of a flashback: Lionel Messi intercepted the missed pass from Youssouf Fofana in his camp, before serving "Kyky", launched at full ball (45th).

The former Monegasque left goalkeeper Alexander Nübel no chance to score his 10th goal of the season in the Championship - his 100th in L1 for PSG since his arrival in 2017.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé thanks Argentinian striker Lionel Messi for his assist, after scoring his 2nd home goal against Monaco, at the end of the 18th day of Ligue 1, December 12, 2021 at the Parc des Princes Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

"When you play for PSG, there is no room for feelings," said the striker before the meeting, at the microphone of PSG TV.

Already author of a double against Bruges on Tuesday in the Champions League (4-1), Mbappé has done it again, with the ardor that has characterized him for several months, and pushes PSG forward in his wake.

However, he sometimes seems to be the only engine of a team which has not confirmed the progress seen in the game during the first period against the Belgians.

Pochettino who wants his collective to progress, should not have appreciated the sequences of domination of the Monegasques.

ASM had a huge opportunity to score first, but the post repelled Sofiane Diop's attempt (2nd).

Clumsy messi

Wissam Ben Yedder (23rd) and Guillermo Maripan (26th) were not far from equalizing either, which would have been logical given the appearance of the meeting.

Paris showed too much inconstancy to achieve the benchmark performance he dreams of.

He owes his victory above all to the big individual mistakes of the Monegasques which led to the two goals.

Expected at the turn after his double against Bruges, Messi embodied this ups and downs evening, with some flashes, and a lot of clumsiness.

After a one-two with Mbappé, his shot for the 3-0 (71st) grazed the right post of Nübel.

For the rest, the seven-time Ballon d'Or was not inspired, as on the two well-placed free kicks (28th, 65th).

Paris Saint-Germain's Argentine striker, Lionel Messi, misses a goal opportunity against German Monaco goalkeeper Alexander Nubel at the end of the 18th matchday of Ligue 1, December 12, 2021 at the Parc des Prince FRANCK FIFE AFP

Still deprived of Neymar, unavailable until mid-January due to a sprained ankle, the Parisian attack remains in the break-in period, two months from the knockout stages of the Champions League.

If Paris has passed the second, it is still far from its top speed.

© 2021 AFP