Paris Saint Germain vs Monaco preview - PSG and Monaco look to spark season

Underperforming Ligue 1 giants Paris St Germain and Monaco meet at the Parc des Princes seeking the victory that will ignite their domestic seasons.

Reigning champions PSG are five points adrift of leaders Marseille just eight games into the campaign while Monaco, last term's runners-up, occupy 12th place.

A 3-2 Champions League victory over Barcelona has raised the Parisians' spirits, but coach Laurent Blanc knows the number of draws they are producing on the domestic front - five to date - is cause for concern.

He said: "We are aware that last season we dominated the league and this year, with the same team and the same coach, we are not winning matches so easily.

"Even if we are having difficulty and certain things worry me, the spirit is good.

"The players are putting in a lot of effort, perhaps more than last season when they were winning matches 3-0 or 4-0."

Monaco are joint top of their Champions League group yet have struggled in Ligue 1, losing three games.

However, coach Leonardo Jardim will not change his playing philosophy.

"Our objective is to win. We didn't expect to suffer so many defeats in so few games," Jardim said.

"But there is only one road - hard work and making the group progress.

"Our way of playing football is ambitious. Monaco are an ambitious team. We stuck to our ideas.

"We like playing football; we don't boot the ball into touch, or throw ourselves to the ground. I respect the game of football."