Psg advance 5-4 on aggregate after Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos strike in nervy tie
psg moved on after a 5-4 aggregate victory over AS Monaco, a tie decided by goals from Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos and a tense return leg at the Parc des Princes that left players and staff counting breaths until the final whistle.
Psg into next round after 5-4 aggregate win
Paris Saint-Germain sealed a 5-4 aggregate success over AS Monaco, combining the return-leg action at the Parc des Princes with the one-goal lead they had taken from the Stade Louis-II the previous week (3-2). Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos each scored for the home side, and the result completed the two-match confrontation in PSG’s favor.
Neves: “Never afraid” after a night on a knife edge
Joao Neves, 21 years old, framed the outcome simply: qualification and nothing else. He said the match had been very difficult but insisted there had been no fear even when Monaco drew level on the night. Neves added that with an extra player it became easier, stressing that over the two matches PSG were better.
Late Monaco goals and a red card swung momentum
Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche scored before the break in the 45th minute to pull the tie back into contention on the night. The sending off of Coulibaly later in the match shifted the dynamic; PSG recovered after the dismissal and capitalized on the extra man. Despite that, a 2-2 goal by Teze and a final free kick taken by Faes produced intense late pressure and gave PSG serious scares in the closing moments.
Kvaratskhelia and the half-time regrouping
Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia acknowledged the strain of the night, saying the score against PSG had dented the team’s confidence. He described a halftime address from the coach that re-focused the side, and he noted they returned in the second half with renewed motivation and ultimately did the job required to progress.
Luis Enrique: uncomfortable but confident, eyes on Chelsea or Barcelone
Luis Enrique admitted he disliked the suffering of the evening and lamented many imprecisions from his players in the first period, while praising Monaco as a true, high-level opponent. He said PSG controlled the match and scored two goals, but that conceding a last action was dangerous; despite that, he declared the team deserved qualification. He reiterated that PSG had earlier been placed into the play-offs and defended the squad’s readiness for the next challenge: the opponent will be Chelsea or Barcelone, and he declined to show a preference between Chelsea or the Barça. Luis Enrique also highlighted an incredible schedule and a run of injuries to many players, noting three months of competition remain and the squad’s mentality to keep fighting for trophies—a test of whether PSG can repeat last season’s exploits.
One year earlier, PSG had overwhelmed Brest at the same stage with results of 3-0 and 7-0; this time the narrow passage contrasted sharply with that dominant round. Observers and staff pointed to too many individual failures across the lines and a growing defensive fragility, elements the coach and players said they must address as they prepare for the next opponent.
The club’s next confirmed step on the calendar is the tie against Chelsea or Barcelone in the next round of the competition.
