PSG Survive Monaco Scare to Reach UCL Last 16 in Dramatic Night
Champions under pressure, a red card turning the tide and late drama in Paris, this was a Champions League night that had everything.
At the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain were pushed to the edge by AS Monaco , but the holders did just enough to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a 5-4 aggregate victory.
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The match ended 2-2 on the night, but that scoreline only tells part of the story.
Monaco came to Paris with belief and just before half-time they stunned the home crowd. A precise through ball split the defense and Maghnes Akliouche finished calmly into the bottom corner. Suddenly, the holders were staring at real danger. For long stretches, Monaco looked organized, disciplined and fearless. They absorbed pressure and waited for their moments.
And there was plenty of pressure. PSG dominated possession, controlling more than 70 percent of the ball. They fired over 20 shots and camped inside Monaco’s half. But dominance does not always mean control. Monaco’s goalkeeper stood tall, making key saves to keep the tie alive.
Then came the turning point.
Just before the hour mark, Monaco’s Mamadou Coulibaly, already on a yellow card, lunged into a challenge and saw red. In a knockout tie, one moment like that can change everything. And it did.
Within minutes, PSG struck. Marquinhos, the captain, arrived at the perfect time to finish from close range. The stadium erupted. The momentum had completely shifted. Six minutes later, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia reacted quickest inside the box after a parried shot and fired home. In the space of a few frantic minutes, PSG had flipped the tie on its head.
Monaco did not collapse. Even with ten men, they fought to the final whistle. Deep into stoppage time, Jordan Teze found the net to make it 2-2 on the night, setting up a tense finale. But it was too late. PSG held on.
This result matters beyond just progression. As defending champions, PSG are carrying expectation and pressure. They showed resilience, but they also showed vulnerability. Against stronger opposition in the next round, moments of indiscipline or defensive lapses could be punished far more severely.
Now they wait to learn whether their next challenge will be Chelsea or Barcelona, two European giants with pedigree and ambition.
The holders survive, but the warning signs are there.
Stay with us for continuing coverage of the Champions League knockout drama, as Europe’s biggest clubs fight for football’s ultimate prize.
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