Monaco exit Champions League but bow out with pride
AS Monaco’s Champions League campaign ended after a 2–2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Paris confirmed their elimination on aggregate.
AS Monaco are out of the UEFA Champions League after a 2-2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday sealed their elimination.
Listen to this article
Having already suffered a 3-2 defeat in the first leg on 17 February, Monaco needed a result in Paris to keep their European hopes alive.
They made a bright start, taking the lead just before half-time through Maghnes Akliouche, who marked his 24th birthday with the opener.
The tie turned early in the second half when Coulibaly was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, reducing Monaco to 10 men.
PSG quickly capitalised, with Marquinhos levelling from a free-kick before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck again to put the hosts ahead on aggregate.
Despite the setback, Monaco continued to push.
Jordan Teze equalised in stoppage time on the night to make it 2-2, briefly raising hopes of a dramatic turnaround.
A late free-kick from Lamine Camara almost produced a winner, but Wout Faes narrowly missed with his header.
The final whistle confirmed Monaco’s exit, though not without a determined display.
After the match, Akliouche admitted there was “disappointment and frustration”, pointing to the red cards across both legs as decisive.
Teze insisted PSG “knew it wasn’t a simple qualification”, while head coach Sébastien Pocognoli criticised the sending-off as harsh but said his side leave the competition “with honours”.
Monaco now turn their focus back to Ligue 1, with a home fixture against Angers this weekend before meeting PSG again in the league next week.