Mamadou Coulibaly faced a devastating setback with a red card that heavily impacted AS Monaco’s performance, resulting in a 2-2 draw against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain during the second leg of their Champions League playoff on Wednesday, thus exiting the tournament with an aggregate score of 5-4.
This outcome advances PSG to an enticing round of 16 clash, where they will face either Chelsea or Barcelona, pending the results of Friday’s draw.
Monaco initially took the lead at 1-0 with the aggregate score tied at 3-3 until the 21-year-old midfielder received his second yellow card in the 59th minute for a foul against the agile winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
PSG captain Marquinhos swiftly equalized from the resulting free kick, and just six minutes later, Kvaratskhelia scored, putting PSG 2-1 ahead and in control. A stoppage-time equalizer from Jordan Teze proved too late to change the outcome for Monaco.
Last year, PSG celebrated their first tournament victory, yet they had previously been eliminated in the round of 16 five times over eight seasons. Until Coulibaly’s dismissal, Monaco was commanding the match as PSG appeared increasingly anxious.
The turning point came when Coulibaly’s late tackle on Kvaratskhelia shifted the game’s dynamics in favor of PSG.
Shortly after, PSG leveled the score.
A quick free kick was executed down the right, allowing Marquinhos to convert Désiré Doué‘s cross from close range into a goal.
Kvaratskhelia capitalized on a rebound, scoring after Philipp Köhn deflected a powerful right-back shot from Achraf Hakimi into his path. Notably, Hakimi was playing just a day after being ordered to stand trial for a rape allegation.
In the first leg last week, Monaco led 2-0 but faltered due to poor defending. They once again took the lead at Parc des Princes when the nimble winger Maghnes Akliouche scored just before halftime.
Monaco beautifully transitioned the ball from right to left, setting up Brazilian left back Caio Henrique, who fed it to Coulibaly, allowing Akliouche to finish with a side-footed shot that deflected off the left post.
Earlier in the match, Coulibaly squandered a significant opportunity by missing a close-range side-foot shot after Akliouche’s impressive run into the penalty area, where he set him up near the penalty spot.
Akliouche is vying for a position in France‘s World Cup squad, and his performance may significantly enhance his chances.
The talented 24-year-old midfielder broke into the national team last September and netted a goal against Azerbaijan two months later.
Last season, he made headlines with a spectacular overhead kick for Monaco during a Ligue 1 match, leaping to volley a cross from Vanderson with his left foot.
Akliouche also represented France during their run to the finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this recap.