Paris Saint-Germain booked their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds after a dramatic 2–2 draw against AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes, sealing a 5–4 aggregate victory in a pulsating French showdown that delivered tension, controversy, and late drama.
Coming into the second leg with a narrow 3–2 advantage from the first meeting in Monaco, PSG knew the job was far from finished. Monaco, meanwhile, arrived in Paris with belief and attacking intent, determined to overturn the deficit and produce a memorable European comeback.
What followed was a gripping contest that swung emotionally from one side to the other, showcasing both the brilliance and vulnerability of Luis Enrique’s side.
The opening stages saw PSG dominate possession, pushing Monaco deep into their own half while attempting to control the tempo through midfield combinations involving Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves, and Vitinha.
Despite PSG’s territorial advantage, Monaco remained dangerous on transitions, with Maghnes Akliouche and Folarin Balogun providing pace and directness in attack.
The breakthrough came just before halftime, and it went to the visitors.
In the 45th minute, Akliouche finished clinically after being slipped through by Mamadou Coulibaly, stunning the home crowd and leveling the aggregate score at 3–3. The goal shifted momentum significantly, giving Monaco renewed confidence heading into the break.
PSG, who had earlier hit the woodwork through Bradley Barcola and forced saves from goalkeeper Philipp Kohn, suddenly found themselves under pressure in the tie.
The defining moment arrived shortly after the restart.
In the 57th minute, Monaco midfielder Mamadou Coulibaly was shown a red card, reducing the visitors to ten men and dramatically altering the tactical balance of the match.
PSG immediately seized control.
Just three minutes later, captain Marquinhos rose highest to equalize in the 60th minute, restoring PSG’s aggregate advantage and igniting the home supporters.
The Parisians then pushed relentlessly for another goal, sensing vulnerability in Monaco’s defense.
Their pressure paid off again in the 66th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia produced a composed finish to make it 2–1 on the night and 5–3 on aggregate, seemingly putting PSG in complete control of the tie.
At that moment, qualification appeared secure.
But Monaco was far from finished. Despite being a man down, Monaco showed remarkable resilience and attacking courage.
Managerial adjustments and fresh substitutions injected energy into the visitors, who began committing numbers forward in search of another goal.
Their persistence was rewarded deep into stoppage time. In the 90th minute, defender Jordan Teze capitalized on chaos inside the PSG penalty area to fire home the equalizer, making it 2–2 on the night and setting up a nervy finale for the hosts.
Suddenly, one more Monaco goal would have forced extra time.
PSG supporters held their breath as Monaco launched one final push, including a dangerous late header opportunity that narrowly missed the target.
When the final whistle arrived, relief swept across the Parc des Princes.
PSG had survived.
The match reflected two contrasting tactical phases.
PSG dominated possession and territorial control for long periods, particularly after Monaco went down to ten men. Their midfield structure allowed sustained pressure, while wide attackers like Barcola and Kvaratskhelia stretched Monaco’s defensive shape.
However, defensive vulnerability remained evident.
Monaco’s ability to score twice, including once with ten players, highlighted PSG’s occasional fragility when defending transitions and set-piece situations.
For Monaco, the performance demonstrated both attacking quality and resilience. Even with numerical disadvantage, they continued to create moments of danger and nearly forced extra time.
Marquinhos delivered a captain’s performance, scoring the crucial equalizer while providing leadership at the back during tense moments.
Kvaratskhelia once again showed his importance to PSG’s attacking system, combining technical quality with composure to score what proved to be the decisive goal in the tie.
For Monaco, Akliouche stood out with his intelligent movement and first-half goal, while Teze’s late strike encapsulated the visitors’ refusal to surrender.
Goalkeeper Philipp Kohn also produced several important saves to keep Monaco competitive throughout the match.
Progression to the knockout stage represents another important milestone for PSG’s European ambitions under Luis Enrique.
The Spanish coach has emphasized resilience and squad evolution this season, and this tie, though nervy, reinforced his belief that difficult matches help prepare the team for deeper stages of the competition.
However, PSG will also recognize the need for improvement.
Defensive concentration and game management remain areas requiring refinement if they are to challenge seriously for the Champions League title.
Despite elimination, Monaco leaves the competition with pride.
Across both legs, they scored four goals against one of Europe’s elite teams and pushed PSG to the limit until the final moments.
Their aggressive approach, even when reduced to ten men, earned respect and demonstrated the club’s growing competitiveness on the European stage.
Ultimately, PSG advanced, but not without tension, anxiety, and a reminder that Champions League success rarely comes easily.
The Parisians now move forward to the next round with confidence but also lessons learned, while Monaco depart with heads held high after a courageous performance that nearly produced a famous comeback.
For neutrals, it was European football at its dramatic best.
