In this UEFA Champions League play-off first leg, Paris Saint-Germain started the match far too easily. The Parisians conceded a goal from Folarin Balogun after just 55 seconds, with Aleksandr Golovin crossing for the American international to head past Matvey Safonov from close range (1-0, 1′).
PSG immediately found themselves in trouble. A major lapse in PSG’s defensive aggression was marked by Monaco’s second goal, Balogun’s double with a right-footed strike (2-0, 18′).
Paris fought back and took advantage of a mistake by Wout Faes, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia winning a penalty that Vitinha failed to convert (2-0, 22′).
It’s PSG’s fourth missed penalty in their last five Champions League games. When nothing was going right, Ousmane Dembélé, who was struggling, was replaced by Désiré Doué (2-0, 26′). It was a strange choice by Luis Enrique, as the Ballon d’Or winner was clearly not 100% fit to play in this match.
But PSG reacted like European champions in the last quarter of an hour of the first half. Three minutes after coming on, Désiré Doué produced a moment of individual brilliance to get PSG back into the game with his first touch, unleashing a sudden left-footed strike to score the Parisians’ first goal (2-1, 29′).
Doué was again involved in PSG’s equalizer; his powerful right-footed shot was parried by Philipp Köhn to Achraf Hakimi, who scored with his right foot (2-2, 41′).
Doué’s entrance was clearly very good news for PSG. In the second half, PSG dominated and played with a numerical advantage after Golovin was sent off for a foul on Vitinha (2-2, 48′). And Doué, who had been criticised since last Friday, had a score to settle, scoring twice with a fine left-footed strike (2-3, 67′).
Doué scored his third brace in the Champions League with PSG, following those scored in the final against Inter Milan and in Leverkusen last October. The French international reacted like a champion and, with his three decisive shots, was undoubtedly the man of the match at the Stade Louis II.
PSG won but failed to capitalize on their numerical superiority. They should have scored more goals to virtually seal their qualification.
PSG in a Favorable Position Ahead of Next Week’s Return Leg
As was the case last season against Brest, PSG won the first leg of the play-off and will have to confirm their 14th consecutive qualification for the Champions League round of 16 at the Parc des Princes.