A week after winning a thrilling first leg in Monaco, 3-2, Paris Saint-Germain returned to the Parc des Princes for the crucial return match. The Monegasques started the game with a one-goal deficit, and Sébastien Pocognoli's players seemed determined to get back on a level playing field as early as possible and take the heat out of the electric atmosphere at the Parc.
The visitors fired the first shot in anger, as Maghnes Akliouche broke into the Parisian box and crossed back to Mamadou Coulibaly, who was denied by Matvey Safonov's goal (9'). The visitors were throwing everything at their hosts, who struggled to threaten at the other end for much of the half. That was until the 41st minute, when João Neves and Bradley Barcola played a perfect one-two, with Barcola's powerful left-footed shot hitting the crossbar of Philipp Köhn’s goal. But there was still time for Monaco to open the scoring before the break through Akliouche, who was set up in the box by Coulibaly (0-1, 45’).
It was all tied on aggregate at the start of the second half and Paris had to find a way into the game. João Neves provided the first spark as he saw his header from a clever Vitinha free kick saved (50'). But there was nothing Philipp Köhn in the Monaco goal could do ten minutes later when Marquinhos beat Wout Faes and Thilo Kehrer to stab home and equalise with his left foot following another set piece (1-1, 60').
AS Monaco, who had just lost Mamadou Coulibaly to a second yellow card, found themselves behind again on aggregate. The momentum of the match shifted, and it was now the capital club who were pushing to take the lead. And they did so a few moments later when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia knocked home the rebound after Köhn’s initial save to deny Achraf Hakimi (2-1, 66'). Luis Enrique's men had turned the tie on its head.
Although Monaco managed a late equaliser in added time on the night, courtesy of substitute Jordan Teze (2-2, 90+1’), Paris Saint-Germain prevailed on aggregate and qualified for the Champions League round of 16. While waiting for Friday’s draw to find out who their quarter-final opponent will be, the capital club will be able to turn their attention to Ligue 1 and a trip to Le Havre on Saturday at 21:05 CET.
