monaco vs psg: Substitute Desire Doue inspires holders' comeback
Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning turnaround at the Stade Louis II, coming from 2-0 down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout playoff. Twenty-year-old substitute Desire Doue was the match-winner, scoring twice and playing a key role in the equaliser, while Monaco finished the game with 10 men.
Match turning points and a dramatic 45 minutes
The tie began badly for the visitors when Folarin Balogun opened the scoring inside the opening minute, heading home from Aleksandr Golovin's cross after a misplaced pass put Monaco on the front foot. Balogun doubled the advantage in the 18th minute, racing past the PSG defence to slot past Matvey Safonov for his 10th goal of the season.
PSG were handed a chance to claw one back shortly after when a foul by Wout Faes on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia earned them a penalty, but Vitinha's effort was kept out by the goalkeeper, who dived to his right. The missed spot-kick left PSG trailing until Desire Doue's introduction midway through the first half. The 20-year-old's arrival shifted the momentum: he scored in the 29th minute, drilling a shot in off the post from an acute angle, and four minutes before half-time his shot was deflected into the path of Achraf Hakimi, who finished with a half-volley to make it 2-2.
Second-half drama, red card and decisive substitute impact
The opening moments of the second half altered the balance further when Aleksandr Golovin was shown a red card for a studs-up challenge on Vitinha after the referee reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, reducing Monaco to 10 men. PSG capitalised on the numerical advantage and continued to press for a winner.
Halfway through the second period, PSG completed the comeback. Warren Zaire-Emery helped tee up Doue, who struck a superb finish from the edge of the area to make it 3-2. The goals marked another landmark for the young forward: he has now scored four goals in this season's Champions League and became the first PSG substitute to net two or more goals in a Champions League match since October 2019.
Monaco pushed for an equaliser late on, but the visitors held firm to take a crucial advantage to the return leg. The tie was stretched to a new intensity by the early setback and the late swing, and both sides will head back to the French capital with plenty to analyse.
Implications ahead of the return leg
The result hands PSG the upper hand going into the return in Paris next Wednesday (ET), but the away goals era is no longer a factor, so Monaco will still have every opportunity to turn the tie around at home. PSG will take confidence from their ability to respond under pressure and from Doué's game-changing contributions off the bench, while Monaco will rue the red card and the missed chances that might have left them with a more comfortable lead.
For PSG, the win offers momentum as holders and evidence that their squad depth can influence big knockout ties. For Monaco, it is a hard lesson in game management and discipline — the club will need to regroup quickly if they are to overturn the deficit in Paris. With plenty still to play for, the return leg promises to be a high-stakes showdown where small margins will decide who progresses to the last 16.
