Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday night, surviving a tense all-French affair against AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes. The hosts won 2-2 on the night to seal a 5-4 aggregate victory, but it was far from comfortable as Monaco pushed them to the brink in a pulsating knockout playoff second leg in front of 47,511 fans.
Having pulled off a remarkable comeback to win 3-2 in the first leg at the Stade Louis II after trailing 2-0, PSG knew they held the advantage heading into the return fixture. However, Monaco had other ideas. Maghnes Akliouche struck just before halftime to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, levelling the aggregate score at 3-3 and sending shockwaves through the Parisian crowd. Suddenly, the tie was wide open again.
The turning point came in the 59th minute when Monaco midfielder Mamadou Coulibaly received his second yellow card for a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, reducing the visitors to ten men. From the resulting free kick just one minute later, PSG captain Marquinhos rose highest to head home and restore his side's aggregate advantage. The Brazilian defender's goal was a testament to his leadership and big-game mentality.
Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian winger who has been sensational since his arrival from Napoli, then put the tie beyond doubt in the 66th minute with a clinical finish to make it 2-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. The 24-year-old has quickly become one of the most important players in the PSG squad, and his performance in this two-legged tie will only enhance his growing reputation on the European stage.
Jordan Teze pulled one back for Monaco deep into stoppage time at 90+1 minutes, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation. The final whistle confirmed PSG's passage into the next round, where they will face either Barcelona or Chelsea. Over the two legs, PSG demonstrated extraordinary resilience, coming from behind in both matches to secure their place among the last 16 of European football's premier competition.
For Monaco, it was a campaign to be proud of despite the aggregate defeat. They tested PSG thoroughly across both legs and showed they can compete at the highest level. For PSG and their supporters, the relief was palpable as they celebrated another step forward in their quest for Champions League glory.
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