monaco vs psg: Substitute Doué sparks dramatic Champions League comeback
Paris Saint-Germain looked on course for an embarrassing exit after falling 2-0 behind inside 18 minutes, but a game-changing substitution and a moment of magic from Désiré Doué turned the first leg of the Champions League knockout play-off on its head. PSG left the Stade Louis II with a 3-2 advantage after Doué scored twice and helped create the equaliser against a Monaco side reduced to 10 men.
Balogun double and a missed penalty set the stage
The match exploded into life inside the opening minute when Folarin Balogun met a cross to head Monaco ahead from close range. The hosts doubled their lead in the 18th minute as Balogun sprinted clear and slotted past the goalkeeper for his second, leaving the holders in real trouble. PSG were handed a lifeline shortly after when Wout Faes fouled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the area, but Vitinha’s penalty was saved by Philipp Köhn, continuing a recent run of spot-kick misery for the midfielder.
With PSG reeling, manager Luis Enrique opted for a reshuffle and introduced 20-year-old Doué from the bench midway through the first half. The fresh spark was decisive: Doué drilled a low finish in off the post in the 29th minute to get PSG back in the game and change the momentum at the Stade Louis II.
Turning point: red card and rapid response
Four minutes before half-time Doué helped engineer the leveller. His long-range effort was parried by Köhn straight into the path of Achraf Hakimi, who finished with a half-volley to make it 2-2 and register his first Champions League goal of the season. Seconds after the restart the tie swung further when Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin was shown a red card after the referee reviewed a studs-up challenge on Vitinha at the pitchside monitor, upgrading an initial yellow to a dismissal.
Down to 10 men, the hosts struggled to contain PSG’s renewed momentum. The visitors dominated possession in the second half and were rewarded in the 67th minute when Warren Zaire-Emery teed up Doué, who struck a superb shot from the edge of the area to beat Köhn and secure a 3-2 lead. The goal made Doué the first PSG substitute to score two or more times in a Champions League match since October 2019, and marked his fourth goal of this season’s European campaign.
What it means for the tie
The victory gives the defending champions a crucial advantage heading into the return leg in Paris next Wednesday (ET). PSG’s response after a terrible start showed depth and resilience: a youthful substitute seized the moment and altered the complexion of the tie, while Monaco will be left to rue the early concession and the second-half red card. The outcome leaves the tie finely poised, but the momentum now sits with the visitors as they prepare to host the reverse fixture.
Key talking points from the night include Balogun’s blistering opening salvo, Vitinha’s missed penalty, the impact of Doué’s introduction, and the disciplinary turning point that shifted control. For Monaco, the result is a setback after a promising opening; for PSG, it is a reminder that matches can be overturned quickly when game-changing players are introduced at the right moment.
