PSG profit yet again from the self-destructive Monaco

Self-destruction.

That‘s the sole word which can perfectly describe everything Monaco did in the playoff games against PSG in the Champions League. The French team was underdog in both ties but ended up being the better team in both of them, at least when they had 11 men on the field. And that was the main problem. In both games, Monaco had better chances and scored goals until they were left with 10 men on the field. Against the current Champions League winners, it‘s not possible to win if you are one man down and that happened in both matches. Last week it was Golovin who got the red card (a bit harsh) and tonight it was Coulibaly.

The French U20 midfielder with Malian decent had the best chance of the game for Monaco but missed it after only 10 minutes, then assisted Akliouche for the leading goal but then made two tackles in the space of three minutes and got the red card. We can argue that it was too harsh to give a player two yellow cards for two tackles, we can argue that the referee wouldn‘t do that if PSG defender made those tackles but it won‘t change the fact that the visitors were one man down. After six minutes from the expulsion, PSG made a complete turnover and the match ended with a 2-2 draw, sending PSG into the Round of 16.

Monaco was brave from the start of the match, not only because they needed at least one goal in order to prevent instant elimination, but also due to the fact that they played really good against PSG in the first match. After only 10 minutes Akliouche crossed the ball, beating Safonov in the process, but Coulibaly somehow managed to miss from close range. In the next attack, Caio Henrique took a perfect free kick into the box for former Parisian Kehrer but it just went wide of Safonov's post. PSG had one half-chance in the 30th minute, when Doue suddenly got the ball, but shot poorly and one really good opportunity in the 40th minute, when Barcola hit the crossbar. Akliouche had a really good first half and he ended it with a goal just before the whistle. Coulibaly layed it off to Akliouche near the penalty spot, and the Frenchman gave Monaco the lead.

Joao Neves' powerful header was saved by Kohn in the 50th minute before Coulibaly completely changed the game with his two yellow cards. Just a minute after the expulsion, Monaco conceded the goal which ended any hope of a miracle. Doue was the architect with a cross from which Marquinhos scored. In the 66th minute, Hakimi tried a shot from the edge of the box which was saved by Kohn, but Kvaratskhelia was close by for the rebound and an easy 2-1. This was the end for Monaco, who managed to score the equalizer in injury time, but it was not enough.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

Return leg

Tuesday

Atletico Madrid - Club Brugge 4-1 (1-1)

/Sorloth 23, 76, 87, Cardoso 48 - Ordonez 36/

Inter - Bodo 1-2 (0-0)

/Hauge 58, Evjen 72 - Bastoni 76/

Leverkusen - Olympiakos 0-0

Newcastle - Qarabag 3-2 (2-0)

/Tonali 4, Joelington 6, Botman 52 - Duran 50, Jafarguliyev 57/

Wednesday

Atalanta - Dortmund 4-1 (2-0)

/Scamacca 5, Zappacosta 45, Pasalic 57, Samardzic 90+8 pen - Adeyemi 75/

Atalanta win 5-4 on agg

Juventus - Galatasaray 3-2 a.e.t (1-0)

/Locatelli 37 pen, Gatti 70, McKennie 82 - Osimhen 105+1, Yilmaz/

Galatasaray win 7-5 on aggregate

PSG - Monaco 2-2 (0-1)

/Marquinhos 60, Khvicha 66 - Akliouche 45, Teze 90+1/

PSG win 5-4 on agg

Real Madrid - Benfica 2-1 (1-1)

/Tchouameni 16, Vinicius Jr 80 - Silva 14/

Real Madrid win 3-1 on agg