Monaco look to put PSG under pressure

Paris, Oct. 12: French champions Monaco will make the tricky trip to Lyon on Friday without red-hot striker Radamel Falcao, as they look to keep up the pressure on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Leonardo Jardim’s side dropped two points with a 1-1 home draw against Montpellier before the international break to slip three points adrift of PSG at the top of the table.

Colombian Falcao has been in stunning form so far this season, scoring 12 goals in just eight league outings, but his midweek efforts in helping his country qualify for next year’s World Cup have ruled him out of Friday’s game.

“He played last night, then there are the different trips (to get back to Monaco),” Jardim said on Wednesday.

“To try to play against Lyon could kill him. He will not play. In fact, his physical condition doesn’t allow him to play two matches in 48 hours.”

Falcao will play in the World Cup finals for the first time in Russia, after setting up James Rodriguez’s goal as Colombia booked their place with a 1-1 draw in Peru. “He deserves to play in a World Cup, he is a great player of a very high quality,” added Jardim.

“I congratulated him for the qualification, but my management of Falcao won’t change. I’ll do everything I can to keep him at his best.”

Despite Falcao’s early goal, Monaco were far from their best in their last league match against Montpellier and will have to bounce back. — AFP