The Albany Gazette - Kvaratskhelia off mark, Dembele scores twice as PSG beat Monaco

Vitinha's early opener for PSG was cancelled out by a Denis Zakaria equaliser at the Parc des Princes, but Kvaratskhelia's superbly taken goal restored the home side's lead early in the second half.

It was the Georgian's first PSG goal on his fourth appearance since signing last month from Napoli for a reported 70 million euros ($72m).

Dembele quickly made it 3-1 and rounded out the victory late on, Ligue 1's leading scorer taking his tally for the season to 16.

He has scored 16 times in his last 10 appearances in all competitions, and an astonishing eight times in his last three matches.

PSG are now 13 points clear at the top of the table from Marseille, who go to Angers on Sunday, while Monaco are another three points behind in third place.

The Parisians have not lost in domestic competition this season, and now head into a Champions League knockout phase play-off tie against French rivals Brest, with the first leg in Brittany on Tuesday.

Friday's result means PSG have lost just one of their last 61 games against French opposition going back to September 2023.

- Luis Enrique's new deal -

All is well for the capital club, who announced on Friday that coach Luis Enrique has extended his contract until 2027, while Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes all penned new deals to stay until 2029.

Monaco had been hoping to cause an upset and boost confidence before hosting Benfica on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie, but this was the third time in a little over seven weeks they had lost to PSG.

Beaten 4-2 at home by PSG in December and 1-0 when the sides met in Doha in the French Champions Trophy in early January, Monaco should have been ahead here inside five minutes.

Maghnes Akliouche set up Takumi Minamino for a great chance inside the box, but the Japanese international shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma, and instead PSG went in front a minute later.

Vitinha's free-kick from wide on the right went around the wall and caught out goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki as it sneaked in at the near post.

Monaco were quickly level. Soungoutou Magassa played a one-two with Breel Embolo before setting up Zakaria to fire in off the upright.

Bradley Barcola then had a goal disallowed for PSG as the first half ended all square, but the home side were back ahead on 54 minutes.

Kvaratskhelia controlled a ball into the box from Barcola and produced a superb second touch to take out Christian Mawissa before finishing emphatically.

Dembele, scorer of a hat-trick in each of his last two games, then took centre stage, as he played a quick exchange of passes with Desire Doue before firing in to make it 3-1 before the hour.

The France winger got his second of the night in the 90th minute with a tap-in after great work down the left by Nuno Mendes.

Facing this PSG side next is an ominous prospect for Brest, who warmed up for their Champions League date with a 2-0 win at western rivals Nantes on Friday.

Ludovic Ajorque put them ahead early on and Pierre Lees-Melou made sure of the win at the death as Brest climbed provisionally up to seventh, above Lyon.

(A.Moore--TAG)