PSG struggle again to beat Monaco in Champions League playoff

[ad_1] Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a shambolic begin as Want Doue impressed a comeback from two targets all the way down to beat Monaco 3-2 within the principality within the first leg of their Champions League knockout part play-off tie on Tuesday.

United States star Folarin Balogun opened the scoring after simply 55 seconds and located the web once more on 18 minutes to place Monaco in management towards their French Ligue 1 rivals on the Stade Louis II.

Vitinha then missed an opportunity for the reigning European champions to scale back the deficit when he had a penalty saved and final yr's Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele got here off injured earlier than the half-hour mark, however his alternative Doue sparked the comeback.

He pulled one again after which helped arrange Achraf Hakimi for the equaliser simply earlier than the break, and Monaco then had Aleksandr Golovin despatched off proper at first of the second half. Doue then scored the winner on 67 minutes.

It was a outstanding recreation and the consequence retains the tie alive going into the return leg in Paris subsequent Wednesday, however Luis Enrique's PSG aspect at the moment are robust favourites to seal a spot within the final 16 in entrance of their very own followers.

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Attempt once more

Paris Saint-Germain's French ahead #10 Ousmane Dembele takes half in a coaching session on the eve of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League KO play-offs first leg soccer match towards AS Monaco, in Monaco on February 16, 2026. © Valéry Hache, AFP PSG got here into this recreation having been knocked off high spot within the French league final weekend following a defeat at Rennes, with Lens changing them on the summit.

Nonetheless, they're an enormous 20 factors away from Monaco, who discover themselves languishing in eighth as a consequence of an incapability to place collectively a constant run of kind.

However, Monaco notably held Manchester Metropolis, Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at house through the league part in Europe and in addition received 1-0 at house to PSG in Ligue 1 in November.

Balogun double, Dembele damage This time they went in entrance inside a minute as Balogun headed in from shut vary from a Golovin cross for the quickest purpose ever conceded in a European tie by PSG.

Monaco had been in dreamland as they doubled their benefit when Balogun performed a fast one-two with Maghnes Akliouche earlier than working via to complete previous goalkeeper Matfei Safonov.

A shock consequence appeared on the playing cards, with PSG's title seemingly very a lot on the road, all of the extra so when Vitinha's penalty was saved by Philipp Koehn after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had been introduced down within the field by Wout Faes.

That was the fourth penalty out of their final 5 within the Champions League that PSG had didn't convert, and issues bought worse for them when Dembele -- who had been a slight doubt pre-match and has had an injury-hit season -- needed to come off.

But his withdrawal actually turned out to be a blessing, as Doue entered the fray and had a devastating affect.

Champions League spherical of 16 accomplished after 18-game night time

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Attempt once more

Sports activities AFP - PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA The standout performer in PSG's 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in final season's closing had been on the sphere barely two minutes when he managed a Bradley Barcola go within the field earlier than smashing a left-foot shot low into the far nook of the web.

The leveller then got here 4 minutes from the interval when a Doue shot was parried by Koehn, with Hakimi controlling the unfastened ball earlier than making use of the end.

Monaco's grip on the sport was actually gone inside three minutes of the restart as Russian playmaker Golovin noticed crimson following a VAR test for his problem on Vitinha, granting PSG the additional man.

The guests took benefit as Warren Zaire-Emery laid the ball off for Doue to attain his second of the night time and make it 3-2 halfway via the second half.

PSG will hope to complete off the tie subsequent week, with the winners going through both Barcelona or Chelsea within the subsequent spherical.

It's a huge ask now for Monaco, though they'll possible be relieved to be heading to Paris with only a one-goal deficit after taking part in for therefore lengthy with 10 males.