Team of the Year: Paris contenders punish Monaco

Paris got the better of their high-stakes Ligue 1 tussle away to Monaco on Sunday, with two of the capital side's Team of the Year contenders finding the net in a 2-1 victory. 

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The two clubs boast eight candidates between them for the UEFA.com fans' Team of the Year 2017, and all but one saw action at the Stade Louis II. Only Thomas Meunier missed out as fellow contender Dani Alves impressed at right-back for the visitors, though it was Neymar who first caught the eye with a sublime through ball to former Monaco forward Kylian Mbappé, who rounded the goalkeeper before shooting wide.

Nominated for Team of the Year after a superb 2017 with both Monaco and Paris, Mbappé endured a frustrating return to his old ground, but Unai Emery's side broke through on 19 minutes when Edinson Cavani jabbed high into the net from Julian Draxler's pass. It was the Uruguay striker's 16th Ligue 1 effort in just 13 games and moved him within four goals of Zlatan Ibrahimović's club record of 156 strikes – underlining his claim to a spot in the Team of the Year reckoning.

Fellow candidate Neymar then won and converted a penalty shortly after the restart to bolster his own bid, the Brazil star bringing up his 14th goal in all competitions since joining Paris in the summer. He also hit the post as the visitors spurned a number of chances, allowing Monaco a way back into the game when João Moutinho reduced the deficit with a deflected free-kick.

On a difficult night for Team of the Year hopefuls Fabinho and Kamil Glik, Monaco's third representative on the list threatened to grab an unlikely draw. Radamel Falcao was vying to register his 14th effort in the French top flight this term – having struck 30 in all competitions last season – but he failed to beat Alphonse Areola in the closing minutes as Paris held firm to move nine points clear at the Ligue 1 summit.

PICK YOUR TEAM OF THE YEAR