Desire Doue doubles sees PSG survive Monaco Champions League play-off scare

Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue celebrates scoring their third goal with Vitinha

Paris Saint-Germain continued the defence of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) title by recovering from a two-goal deficit to defeat AS Monaco 3-2, a result which means they are now unbeaten in 16 UCL knockout games under Luis Enrique.

For the second UCL campaign in succession, PSG found themselves facing a fellow French side in the play-off round.

However, while Stade Brestois 29 were brushed aside by an aggregate score of 10-0 in 2024/25, Monaco provided a much more challenging test in the first half here.

In fact, they required fewer than 60 seconds to break the deadlock when Folarin Balogun headed home unmarked from Alexsandr Golovin’s cross to the back post.

That was the USA international’s third career goal against the reigning Ligue 1 champions, and he had his fourth shortly after the quarter-hour mark when he fired past Matvei Sofonov following Maghnes Akliouche’s through ball.

That strike woke PSG up from their slumber, though, and within two minutes they had a fantastic opportunity to reduce the arrears.

Wout Faes’ lack of composure in possession allowed Kvara Kvaratskhelia to nip in front of him and bare down on goal, and he was only prevented from firing off a shot when he was felled by the Belgium international in a desperate attempt to atone for his error.

Nevertheless, the subsequent penalty from Vitinha was kept out by Phillip KF6hn to keep the hosts’ two-goal lead intact.

Eventually, though, Les Parisiens began to find their groove and, by HT, they were back on level terms.

Both goals were well taken, too, as Desire Dou9 rippled the net via the post with a pinpoint effort from a tight angle, before Achraf Hakimi produced a similarly clinical finish from the other side of the area.

Momentum

Almost immediately after the restart, PSG received a significant boost as they looked to complete the turnaround when Golovin was sent off following a high challenge on Vitinha.

As a result, Enrique’s men dominated possession and territory, but struggled to create as many chances against a Monaco side now sitting deep in their own third to avoid going behind.

This PSG side is full of quality, though, and they finally completed the comeback midway through the second half. Dou9 was the goalscorer, hammering into the bottom corner from just inside the area to put his side in the ascendancy.

Match stats

From that point onwards, the visitors’ clear objective was to try and put the tie to bed, with Monaco effectively unable to get into the opposite half besides when Denis Zakaria shot narrowly wide from distance.

Ultimately, though, the away team could not extend their lead, meaning the clash remains alive ahead of next week’s second leg at the Parc des Princes.

There, Les Mon9gasques will aim to defeat the side from the capital for just a second time in six meetings across all competitions, no mean feat against a team of PSG’s obvious ability.