Champions League holders PSG will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their play-off tie with fellow Ligue 1 outfit Monaco. An outcome that you may have envisaged before the game got underway, not one that would have necessarily been foreseen after 20 minutes.
By that stage Monaco had already found themselves two goals to the good. Former Arsenal forward Florian Balogun not only putting Tuesday’s hosts ahead in the first minute but then doubling his side’s advantage in the 18th.
A brace that shellshocked not only Luis Enrique from the technical area but anyone keeping a keen eye on events in the Champions League on Tuesday. Admittedly PSG have not performed at the same heights as last season but even this start was poor by their own lessened standards.
While it is was a night that looked like going from bad to worse when Vitinha missed the opportunity to halve the first half deficit. Monaco defender Wout Faes bundling down Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box, Jesus Gil Manzano pointing to the spot.
A gift wrapped opportunity to pull PSG back into the game and with Vitinha having already missed from 12 yards against Newcastle in the final game of the recent league phase, he would once again fail to hold his nerve.
Monaco keeper Phillip Kohn punching the air in celebration after guessing correctly with the direction of his dive, little did he know that would be the final positive moment of both he and his teammates’ evening.
Driven By Desire
Step forward Desire Doue. Entering the field of play not long after PSG’s missed penalty, he would have an immediate impact after replacing Ousmane Dembele. Only on the pitch for two minutes, his shot from the tightest of angles hitting the frame of the goal before crossing the line.
The balance of power tilting towards the current kings of Europe and the pendulum was firmly in the Parisians’ half when Achraf Hakimi levelled the score before the break. His volley four minutes from the interval being produced after Doue had just stung the fingers of Kohn in the Monaco goal.
Now PSG could smell blood and their cause was further strengthened when Monaco went down to 10 men after the interval. A moment of madness from Alexsandr Golovin would eventually lead to a sending off. His reckless tackle on Vitinha originally labelled as a caution before VAR stepped in.
VAR stepping in, PSG stepping up even further. Now they had numerical superiority on the field of play, you got the feeling there was only going to be one winner. That winner was only ever going to be last season’s outright winners and Doue’s pivotal performance in a 3-2 win was now complete.
The 20-year-old has Warren Zaire-Emery to thank for the assist but Doue will certainly collect the thanks from his teammates and manager after such a scintillating showing. Not short enough to be considered a cameo, more than long enough to cause Monaco Champions League anguish.
