monaco vs psg: Substitute Doué Sparks Stunning Champions League Comeback
Paris Saint-Germain recovered from a nightmare start to beat Monaco 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout round play-off, with 20-year-old substitute Désiré Doué scoring twice and playing a key role in Achraf Hakimi's equaliser. The holders turned the tie around at the Stade Louis II after falling 2-0 behind inside 18 minutes, capitalising when Monaco were reduced to 10 men just after half-time.
Doué changes the game after being introduced
Désiré Doué was named on the bench but was brought on early in the first half as Paris searched for a response to going two goals down. Within minutes of his introduction he drilled a low shot in from an acute angle to halve the deficit, and later had a hand in Hakimi's levelling strike when his own effort from outside the area was palmed into the Moroccan's path. Doué completed the turnaround midway through the second half with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, becoming the first PSG substitute to score two or more Champions League goals in a single match since October 2019.
Monaco's fast start undone by a red card and missed spot-kick
The hosts stunned the champions by taking the lead inside the opening minute when Folarin Balogun headed home from Aleksandr Golovin's cross. Balogun then doubled his tally on 18 minutes with a composed finish after breaking clear to make it 2-0 and underline Monaco's threat. PSG were handed a route back into the game shortly after when a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave them a penalty, but Vitinha saw his spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Philipp Köhn, continuing a difficult run from 12 yards.
Moments after the interval the tie swung decisively when Golovin was shown a red card for a studs-up challenge on Vitinha. The initial yellow was upgraded to a dismissal following a pitchside review, leaving Monaco to defend with ten men for much of the second half. PSG took full advantage of the numerical superiority, dominating possession and creating chances that ultimately produced the winner.
Implications and what comes next
The result gives Paris the upper hand ahead of the return leg in Paris next Wednesday, though the tie is far from settled. Monaco will reflect on a match they controlled for large periods before the dismissal shifted momentum, while PSG will be heartened by the impact of their young substitute and the way they recovered from a poor start. Folarin Balogun's double underlined his form this season, while PSG will draw confidence from the fact they overturned a two-goal deficit against a side who had earlier beaten them at this ground in the domestic campaign.
For PSG, the performance highlighted both vulnerabilities and strengths: vulnerability in conceding two early goals and failing from the spot, but resilience and depth shown by a match-turning cameo from a 20-year-old forward and a quickfire reply after the red card. Monaco head back to their preparations needing to address discipline and the challenge of dealing with high-quality substitutes in the return leg.
