monaco vs psg: Substitute Desire Doue inspires dramatic 3-2 Champions League comeback
Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning turnaround at the Stade Louis II, recovering from a two-goal hole to claim a 3-2 first-leg victory over Monaco in the Champions League playoff. Substitute Desire Doue scored twice and was pivotal in Achraf Hakimi's equaliser as the visitors left Monaco with the advantage ahead of the return leg.
Early shock: Balogun double puts Monaco in control
The game burst into life inside the opening minute when Folarin Balogun rose to head home from Aleksandr Golovin's cross, catching PSG cold. The hosts compounded the pressure in the 18th minute as Balogun sprinted past the defence to slot home his second, handing Monaco a surprise 2-0 lead and placing the holders on the back foot.
PSG were then awarded a lifeline when a foul in the area gave them a penalty, but Vitinha's spot-kick was denied by goalkeeper Philipp Kohn, keeping Monaco two goals to the good. The miss left PSG with extra work, and the match began to tilt after a forced early change for the visitors.
Doue's instant impact and the momentum swing
Ousmane Dembélé, who had looked visibly uncomfortable during the opening stages, was withdrawn around the 26th minute and replaced by 20-year-old Desire Doue. The switch proved decisive. Doue pulled one back in the 29th minute with a low, angled strike that clipped the post on its way in, signalling the start of a remarkable comeback.
Four minutes before half-time Doue again influenced proceedings when his effort from distance was pushed out by Kohn and fell kindly to Achraf Hakimi, who finished with a sharp half-volley to level the scores. The sequence underlined Doue's immediate influence on the match and shifted momentum firmly toward PSG.
Shortly after the interval the match took another dramatic turn when Golovin was shown a red card following a review of a studs-up challenge on Vitinha. Monaco were reduced to 10 men, and PSG, buoyed by the extra player, grew into the contest and began to dominate possession and territory.
Winner, implications and what to watch in Paris
With Monaco down to ten, PSG fully pressed their advantage. In the 67th minute Warren Zaïre-Emery found Doue on the edge of the area and the substitute produced a composed finish to make it 3-2. Doue became the first PSG substitute to score two or more goals in a Champions League match since October 2019, underlining the significance of his contribution.
The result hands PSG the upper hand heading into the return leg next Wednesday in Paris, but the tie is far from settled. Monaco showed they can strike early and expose vulnerabilities, while PSG demonstrated depth and resilience when called upon. Dembélé's early exit for the visitors will be monitored closely ahead of the second leg, with fitness concerns adding another subplot to an already intriguing knockout tie.
Disciplinary moments and the penalty miss will also be factors for both coaches to assess. Monaco will rue the red card and late concession, but having scored twice in this game they remain a threat at home. PSG can take confidence from reversing a difficult start, with a young substitute now firmly on the radar as the holders seek to navigate the knockout phase.
