Trailing 2-0, PSG staged a dramatic comeback fueled by a bench spark, securing a hard-fought victory after Monaco saw red.
In the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, PSG traveled to Monaco and the Parisians came away with the victory, but not without suffering.
Paris completely botched its start, trailing 2-0 after 18 minutes and Vitinha missing a penalty right after. Salvation came from the bench, with Doue replacing an injured Dembele, and Paris turned everything around: Doue quickly reduced the deficit, then Hakimi equalized before halftime.
The same Doue gave PSG the victory, playing 11 against 10 after Golovin was sent off right after the start of the second half. Paris went through every emotion but left with the win.
PSG's lineup against Monaco: Safonov - Hakimi, Marquinhos (c), Pacho, Mendes - Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Neves - Kvaratskhelia (Lee, 69th), Dembele (Doue, 27th), Barcola (Ramos, 81st).
PSG's bench: Chevalier, Marin, Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Ramos, Doue, Lee, Hernandez, Dro, Mbaye.
Monaco's lineup against PSG: Kohn - Vanderson (Bamba, 70th), Teze, Faes, Caio Henrique - Camara, Zakaria (c) - Akliouche (Diatta, 58th), Golovin, Adingra (Coulibaly, 70th) - Balogun (Biereth, 83rd).
Monaco's bench: Stawiecki, Lienard, Biereth, Idumbo, Bamba, Diatta, Coulibaly, Toure, Nidombe.
Monaco 2-3 PSG: Paris Saint-Germain Player Ratings
Matvey Safonov (5): Optional on the first two goals, but decisive in preventing a 3-3 score.
Achraf Hakimi (6): Plenty of volume on the right side, and a valuable goal.
Marquinhos (4): Struggled on the first two goals, not much afterward.
Willian Pacho (5): Good in the air, had more difficulty on the ground.
Nuno Mendes (3): Disastrous on the first goal, and plenty of errors afterward.
Vitinha (5): A missed penalty, but plenty of good with the ball as usual.
Joao Neves (7): Everywhere on the pitch and precise, except in the box.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (7): A first half in the shadows, a strong second half, however.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (6): Many good things when he could be found, which was possibly too rare.
Desire Doue (9): A double, largely instigated a third goal, and a great match from him.
Bradley Barcola (5): Good things to shake up the defense, but still struggles a bit in front of the goal.
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