Paris Saint-Germain staged a remarkable comeback at the Stade Louis II, overturning an early two-goal deficit to defeat Monaco 3-2 in a thrilling UEFA Champions League encounter.
Désiré Doué emerged as the hero for PSG, scoring twice to spark their impressive resurgence on February 17, 2026. This Group Stage clash between the French rivals held high stakes.
The match exploded into life. Folarin Balogun netted for Monaco just one minute in from Aleksandr Golovin's pass. He then doubled Monaco's lead in the 18th minute after a clever assist from Maghnes Akliouche.
However, the tide quickly turned. Monaco's Warren Faes received a yellow card in the 21st minute. Vitinha's penalty for PSG in the 22nd minute was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Philipp Köhn, denying an immediate equalizer.
PSG swiftly intensified their attack. Désiré Doué equalized in the 29th minute, latching onto Bradley Barcola's pass. Achraf Hakimi then completed a dramatic first-half turnaround in the 41st minute, with Doué assisting, giving PSG a crucial 3-2 lead.
Monaco, having started so brightly, found their commanding lead evaporated. Manager Adi Hütter faced a difficult task to regroup. PSG aimed to capitalize on their psychological advantage.
Monaco's challenge grew tougher after the restart. Aleksandr Golovin received a straight red card in the 48th minute for a serious foul, reducing the home side to ten men. This pivotal moment severely hampered Monaco's comeback hopes.
PSG exploited the numerical superiority. Désiré Doué secured his brace and the winning goal in the 67th minute, confidently finishing from a Warren Zaïre-Emery assist. PSG firmly controlled the remainder of the match.
Paris Saint-Germain controlled possession with an overwhelming 80% to Monaco's 20%. They recorded 27 total shots (8 on target), while Monaco managed 7 (4 on target). PSG’s xG stood at 2.28, Monaco's at 1.19. Goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made 5 crucial saves for Monaco.
This victory solidifies PSG's position atop their Champions League group. For Monaco, despite early heroics, the defeat leaves an uphill battle to progress. The early red card proved decisive in their unfortunate loss.
