Paris Saint-Germain saved their Champions League title defence going as they drew 2-2 with Monaco within the second leg of their play-off to win 5-4 on mixture.
The nerves had been jangling round Parc des Princes when Maghnes Akliouche levelled the tie on the stroke of half-time, however Mamadou Coulibaly’s purple card swung the momentum.
Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia netted inside six second-half minutes to all however safe their spot within the final 16, with Jordan Teze’s 91st-minute strike proving to be a comfort.
Monaco squandered two possibilities to go forward early as Coulibaly fired over from six yards out earlier than Thilo Kehrer glanced a header extensive of the far submit from Vanderson’s cross.
Nonetheless, simply moments after Bradley Barcola struck the crossbar for PSG, Akliouche put the guests forward when his composed end from shut vary went in off the left submit.
It was an excellent contest in the beginning of the second half, however two yellow playing cards in fast succession for Coulibaly gave PSG a much-needed enhance as Marquinhos scored from the ensuing set-piece on the hour.
Kvaratskhelia then netted the defining objective within the 66th minute, reacting quickest to a rebound after Philipp Kohn saved Achraf Hakimi’s preliminary lengthy shot.
Teze threatened one other twist within the story when he pulled a objective again within the first minute of stoppage time, however PSG survived by the pores and skin of their enamel as Woet Faes’ header from a free-kick within the ninety fifth minute went simply extensive of the precise submit.
INTO THE ROUND OF 16! #PSGASM – I #UCL pic.twitter.com/C25GCbZyLI
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) February 25, 2026
Knowledge Debrief: Monaco’s ill-discipline proves pricey
PSG produced 2.13 anticipated objectives (xG) from 21 pictures to Monaco’s 1.16 from 9 makes an attempt, however Coulibaly’s purple card modified the trajectory of the sport within the French capital.
Monaco led in xG (0.82 to 0.48) and pictures on track (three to 0) at half-time, with Sebastien Pocognoli left to surprise what his aspect might have produced on this tie if it weren’t for his or her two purple playing cards throughout the 2 legs.
There have been 33 purple playing cards within the Champions League this season – extra dismissals than any earlier marketing campaign within the competitors. Monaco acquired two of these in each legs towards PSG, the primary time that they’d a participant despatched off in each legs of a Champions League knockout tie.
