PSG Survive Scare Against Monaco, Reach UCL Round of 16

Paris Saint-Germain survived another early fright and a late equaliser to squeeze past AS Monaco 2-2 on the night and advance to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after a breathless play-off second leg at the Parc des Princes.

Monaco threatened first, just as they had in the opening leg, when Mamadou Coulibaly spooned a gilt-edged chance over the bar from eight metres after Maghnes Akliouche’s inviting pass. The miss, in the ninth minute, would come back to haunt the visitors.

PSG never found their customary rhythm and, on the half-hour mark, Monaco remained the more dangerous side. Bradley Barcola struck the woodwork in the 41st minute, yet it was the Principality club who deservedly broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Caio Henrique recycled possession on the left and picked out Coulibaly, whose clever lay-off allowed Akliouche to curl a precise left-footed finish beyond Matvey Safonov.

The hosts emerged with renewed intent after the restart and were handed a decisive advantage moments later. Coulibaly, already on a yellow, lunged in recklessly again and received a second caution inside three minutes, leaving Monaco a man short.

The numerical swing tilted the tie instantly. In the 60th minute, teenage winger Désiré Doué floated a teasing cross to the back post where captain Marquinhos arrived to slam home his second Champions League goal of the campaign, igniting roars of relief around the capital.

Six minutes later PSG completed the turnaround. Achraf Hakimi’s powerful drive was parried by Philipp Köhn into the path of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who tucked away the rebound for his fourth European strike of the season.

Monaco refused to wilt and, in the first minute of added time, Dutch defender Jordan Teze slammed in a dramatic equaliser that proved too late to alter the aggregate outcome.

The draw for the last 16 will be held on Friday, 27 February, when the French champions will discover whether they face FC Barcelona or Chelsea. Despite another uneven display, Luis Enrique’s side remain alive on two fronts, firmly in the hunt for both European and domestic glory.