Psg survive 5-4 aggregate scare to oust Monaco after late dramas
psg reached the next round after a tense two-legged tie, advancing 5-4 on aggregate over AS Monaco thanks in part to goals from Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos. A red card, an equaliser by Teze and a late free-kick from Faes made the return leg at the Parc des Princes a nervy affair.
Psg hold on at Parc des Princes
The return leg at the Parc des Princes began with PSG defending a one-goal advantage carried over from the first leg, which finished 3-2 at the Stade Louis-II the week before. Despite that lead, Paris conceded the opening goal in the return match because of defensive lapses and were forced into a tense finish before ultimately progressing 5-4 on aggregate.
How the tie unfolded: goals, red card and late shocks
Monaco levelled the double confrontation before the break when Maghnes Akliouche struck just before halftime (45th minute), cancelling PSG’s aggregate edge. The visitors were later reduced to ten men; the expulsion of Coulibaly shifted momentum and, after Teze’s goal made it 2-2 in the match, a late free-kick finished by Faes produced frantic scenes in the closing stages.
Players who mattered: Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Teze and Faes
Goals from Kvaratskhelia and Marquinhos across the tie ensured the overall 5-4 scoreline that sent PSG through. Khvitcha Kvarastkhelia, attaquant du Paris-SG, admitted the score against them had dented confidence: "Le score en notre défaveur a entamé notre confiance, " he said, adding that a halftime talk from the coach and a strong second half helped them recover. The late interventions by Teze and Faes kept the match alive until the final whistle.
Voices from the night: Neves and Luis Enrique
Joao Neves, the 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder, said of the sending-off: "Avec un joueur en plus, c'est devenu plus facile. " He insisted he never doubted the outcome even when Monaco had drawn level on aggregate, saying "Il restait du temps. De la peur, jamais. " Neves added that the tie comprised two matches and that PSG were better over both legs.
Luis Enrique acknowledged a difficult evening for his side. He said he disliked the suffering of the match and lamented too many inaccuracies in the first half, while praising Monaco as a very strong opponent. "On a contrôlé tout le match, on a marqué les deux buts, ça a été le résultat parfait, mais la dernière action, on a concédé un but et ça a été dangereux. Mais on est content, " he said after the game. The coach also defended the idea that such fixtures will make the squad grow and repeated his long-held view that his team is prepared for high-level opponents.
Reminder of recent context: one year earlier, at the same stage of the competition, PSG had routed Brest with results noted as (3-0, 7-0). The current tie, by contrast, featured far more defensive fragility and individual errors across the lines than the club displayed in that previous round.
A brief aside from coverage read: "Comment s'est déroulée votre expérience aujourd'hui ?"
What comes next: Chelsea or Barcelona await
psg will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the next round. Luis Enrique declined to show a preference between the two clubs but insisted his side is ready to compete against any opponent; he also noted the squad has coped with many injuries this season and that three months of competition remain. The club will now prepare for that draw and the next match on the calendar.
