Monaco have plenty of money and ambition but not many supporters | David Conn

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When Monaco play PSG on Sunday it will be a contest of overseas mega-wealth at odds with much of French football

Ten minutes to kick-off at Monaco's match against Lorient last Sunday, the yachts in the Cap-d'Ail marina just visible from inside the Stade Louis II, came confirmation that the striker all Europe relishes watching would start for Monaco. "Numero neuf," roared the stadium announcer, of the Colombian for whom Monaco paid Atlético Madrid that startling €60m this summer: "RA-DA-MEL FALCAO!"

To say the crowd went wild would be exaggerating just a little. Assembled to watch Falcao, live on the Côte d'Azur, with João Moutinho, midfield rock signed for £22m from Porto along with James Rodríguez, who cost £40m; fearsome French international Geoffrey Kondogbia, who cost £18m from Sevilla; and languid veterans Ricardo Carvalho and Eric Abidal, were 8,500 people. Three stands in the old stadium were patchily occupied by a leisurely crowd. The curved "tribune" stand beneath the famous nine arches was glaringly empty.

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