Paris Saint-Germain kept their Champions League title defense going as they drew 2-2 against Monaco in the second leg of the play-off, eventually winning 5-4.
Nerves were ringing in the Parc des Princes when Maghnes Akliouche equalized on the stroke of half-time, but Mamadou Coulibaly’s red card turned the momentum.
Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored it all within six second-half minutes to secure their place in the last 16, with Jordan Teze’s goal in the 91st minute proving a consolation.
Monaco squandered two chances to take an early lead when Coulibaly fired over from six yards out before Thilo Kehrer fired a header wide of the far post from Vanderson’s cross.
However, moments after Bradley Barcola hit the crossbar for PSG, Akliouche put the visitors ahead when his composed finish from close range went in off the left post.
It was an even match at the start of the second half, but two yellow cards in quick succession for Coulibaly gave PSG a much-needed boost as Marquinhos scored from the resulting set piece on the hour mark.
Kvaratskhelia then scored the decisive goal in the 66th minute, reacting quickest to a rebound after Philipp Kohn saved Achraf Hakimi’s initial long-range shot.
Teze threatened a new twist in the story when he pulled a goal back in the first minute of stoppage time, but PSG survived by the skin of their teeth when Woet Faes’ header from a free-kick in the 95th minute went just wide of the right post.
TO THE ROUND OF 16! #PSGASM -I #UCL pic.twitter.com/C25GCbZyLI
— Paris Saint Germain (@PSG_English) February 25, 2026
Data debrief: Monaco’s poor discipline is proving costly
PSG produced 2.13 expected goals (xG) from 21 shots and Monaco’s 1.16 from nine attempts, but Coulibaly’s red card changed the course of the match in the French capital.
Monaco led in xG (0.82 to 0.48) and shots on target (three to 0) at half-time, with Sébastien Pocognoli wondering what his side could have produced in this tie if the two red cards over both legs had not been given.
There have been 33 red cards in the Champions League this season – more dismissals than any other season in the competition. Monaco conceded two in both legs against PSG, the first time a player had been sent off in both legs of a Champions League knockout match.
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