monaco vs psg: Substitute Desire Doue inspires PSG comeback at Monaco
Paris Saint-Germain overturned a stunning early deficit to beat Monaco 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off, with 20-year-old substitute Desire Doue producing a game-changing performance at the Stade Louis II.
Early Monaco blitz and a missed chance that might have sealed it
The match began disastrously for the holders, who conceded inside the opening minute when Folarin Balogun headed in Aleksandr Golovin's cross. The England forward doubled his tally on 18 minutes, racing clear and slotting past Matvey Safonov to make it 2-0. PSG's situation worsened when a foul in the box on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia handed them a penalty, but Vitinha saw his spot-kick saved by Philipp Köhn, who dove low to his right.
Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d'Or winner, was substituted early in the first half, with the manager turning to Doue for fresh attacking impetus. That decision would prove decisive as PSG clawed their way back into the tie.
Doue's instant impact and the momentum shift
Doue was introduced midway through the first half and made an immediate mark, scoring in the 29th minute to halve the deficit with a low, angled finish that hit the post and crept in. His directness unsettled Monaco and, four minutes before half-time, Doue's long-range attempt was parried by Köhn into the path of Achraf Hakimi, who reacted quickly to smash home a half-volley and level the score at 2-2. It was Hakimi's first Champions League goal of the season and a vital response just before the interval.
The complexion of the match changed further right after the break. Aleksandr Golovin was shown a yellow for a studs-up challenge on Vitinha but, following a pitchside review, the referee upgraded the offence to a red card, leaving Monaco with 10 men. That dismissal left the hosts vulnerable and PSG seized control of the contest in the second half.
Decisive second-half strike and what it means for the tie
PSG took full advantage of the extra man. In the 67th minute, Warren Zaire-Emery set up Doue, who struck decisively from the edge of the area and beat Köhn to complete a dramatic turnaround and secure a 3-2 lead. Doue became the first PSG substitute to score two or more goals in a Champions League match since October 2019, and his brace brings his tally to four goals in this season's competition.
The victory gives PSG a valuable advantage heading into the return leg in Paris next Wednesday (ET), but the tie will remain open. Monaco showed they can hurt the champions with quick transitions and direct play, particularly through Balogun, and will look to exploit any complacency in the return. For PSG, the performance underlines the importance of bench strength: a game that looked to be slipping away was turned around by a bold substitution and a clinical response in both penalty area and from distance.
Despite the win, questions remain about PSG's start and the decision-making that allowed two early goals. Yet the response will hearten the squad and supporters: coming from 2-0 down away from home, then finishing strong against 10 men, is the kind of result that can shift momentum in a two-legged knockout tie.
