Paris Saint-Germain edged closer to securing their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a thrilling away victory against AS Monaco. Folarin Balogun found the net twice within the first 20 minutes, but the match turned when Désiré Doué, who also scored two goals, and Achraf Hakimi helped lead the Parisians to a 3-2 triumph.
Désiré Doué: A Force to Be Reckoned With
The past few days have been challenging for Désiré Doué, following a lackluster performance at Stade Rennais and indirect critiques from teammates. However, being benched by Luis Enrique during tonight’s match did little to undermine the confidence of the Golden Boy 2025. Instead of succumbing to pressure, Doué chose to harness it as motivation.
When Ousmane Dembélé left the field injured after just half an hour, it opened the door for Doué to step in at Stade Louis II. He quickly reminded everyone of his talent, scoring within just two minutes—his first goal since January 4th.
Shortly thereafter, Doué played a crucial role in PSG’s equalizer, unleashing a fierce shot that forced goalkeeper Philipp Köhn to fumble the ball into the path of Achraf Hakimi. Hakimi capitalized on the mistake, helping the Rouge et Bleu come back in style. Doué’s explosive entry was complemented by a second goal, allowing PSG to head into the second leg with a slight advantage.
Defensive Concerns Persist for PSG
While the victory against Monaco was sweet, it highlighted the ongoing defensive issues that PSG has struggled with in recent weeks. From the four shots on target by Monaco, two resulted in goals against Matvey Safonov. Just last Friday, three shots from Rennes also found the back of the net.
In total, across their last five matches in all competitions, PSG has conceded seven goals from 19 shots on target faced—averaging a goal allowed for every 2.7 shots. This concerning statistic raises alarms as the European champions gear up for further challenges in the continent’s most elite competition, where even minimal errors are costly.
Aleksandr Golovin’s Woes Continue
Once regarded as a talented midfielder, Aleksandr Golovin is now generating headlines for very different reasons.
In the match against PSG, the Russian midfielder received yet another red card, just four days after being dismissed against FC Nantes. No other player from Monaco has accumulated more red cards than Golovin in the 21st century. This loss is a significant blow for Les Monégasques, who will have to manage without one of their key playmakers during their upcoming clash at Parc des Princes. Golovin, the number 10, has provided four assists in his last five appearances, making his absence all the more painful for coach Sébastien Pocognoli.