PARIS – Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain narrowly avoided a catastrophic exit on Wednesday night, progressing to the Round of 16 with a 5-4 aggregate victory over domestic rivals Monaco. A tense 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes was enough to see the Parisians through, though the match was defined by a controversial dismissal and a frantic stoppage-time finish.
A First-Half Shocker
Despite their 20-point lead over Monaco in Ligue 1, PSG struggled to impose themselves early. Monaco, buoyed by the return of Maghnes Akliouche, looked the sharper side. After Mamadou Coulibaly missed an early sitter, Akliouche made no mistake in first-half stoppage time, firing a clinical shot off the upright to give the visitors a deserved lead.
The Turning Point: Coulibaly Sees Red
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 58th minute. Coulibaly, who had been cautioned just four minutes earlier, received a second yellow for a late challenge on Achraf Hakimi.
Monaco manager Sebastien Pocognoli was left fuming at the decision, suggesting a “double standard” in officiating:
“For me, it wasn’t deserved,” Pocognoli said. “Lucas Hernandez committed similar offenses and was told to calm down, while my young player was sent off. It’s a double standard we see too often.”
PSG Capitalize on the Advantage
Against 10 men, the holders were ruthless. Just two minutes after the red card, captain Marquinhos bundled home an equalizer from close range. Six minutes later, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—the summer’s marquee signing—pounced on a parried shot from Hakimi to put PSG 2-1 up on the night.
Stoppage Time Chaos
The match wasn’t over. In the 91st minute, Monaco substitute Jordan Teze leveled the score at 2-2, leaving the visitors just one goal away from forcing extra time. In the dying seconds, Wout Faes had a golden opportunity to do just that, but his glancing header whistled wide of the post, allowing the Parc des Princes to breathe a collective sigh of relief.
“At the end, we felt stressed. It was scary,” admitted PSG’s Désiré Doué. “The objective is to dominate, but you have to know how to suffer.”
Off-Field Headlines: The Hakimi Situation
The match took place against a backdrop of significant off-field news involving Achraf Hakimi. The Moroccan captain, who recently confirmed he is facing trial for a 2023 rape allegation (which he denies), was met with a “Total Support” banner from the PSG ultras. Despite the legal cloud, Hakimi played a pivotal role in both PSG goals on the night.
Match Snapshot
Result: PSG 2-2 Monaco (5-4 Aggregate)
Scorers: Marquinhos (60′), Kvaratskhelia (66′) | Akliouche (45+1′), Teze (90+1′)
Red Card: Mamadou Coulibaly (Monaco, 58′)
Next Phase: PSG will face either Barcelona or Chelsea in the Last 16.
