Champions League: Monaco suffers Coulibaly’s red card as PSG advances into the round of 16

Mamadou Coulibaly’s red card cost his side dearly as Monaco drew 2-2 with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League play-offs on Wednesday, eventually going out 5-4.

Monaco were leading 1-0 and the aggregate score was level at 3-3 when the 21-year-old midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the 59th minute for a foul on troublesome winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

PSG captain Marquinhos equalized from the subsequent free kick and six minutes later Kvaratskhelia put PSG ahead 2-1. Jordan Teze’s equalizer in injury time came too late for Monaco.

“Yes, I think it was (a turning point), just like the (red) card in the first match,” Monaco coach Sébastien Pocognoli said. «For me it (sent-off) was not deserved. The two yellow cards came quickly within five minutes. The second was harsh.»

PSG won the tournament for the first time last year, but had previously been eliminated from the last 16 five times in eight years. Until Coulibaly was sent off, PSG looked nervous and Monaco started to take control of the match.

«We would like to get to know them. We beat them (1-0 in the league) and lost and drew against them with 10 players,» he said, referring to Monaco’s red card early in the second half last Tuesday. «We’re looking for their weaknesses amid their immense qualities. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that, we’ve made the most of what they gave us.»

But Coulibaly’s late tackle on Kvaratskhelia near the touchline turned the momentum PSG’s way.

Moments later, PSG were equal.

A quick free kick was played over the right and Marquinhos tapped in Désiré Doué’s cross from close range rfv4.

Kvaratskhelia scored from close range after Philipp Köhn parried a 20-yard shot from right back Achraf Hakimi into his path.

Monaco led 2-0 in the first leg last week before capitulating due to poor defending, taking the lead again at the Parc des Princes when fleet-footed winger Maghnes Akliouche scored just before half-time.

Monaco switched play from right to left and Brazilian left-back Caio Henrique passed inside to Coulibaly, who set aside Akliouche for a side-footed finish that came in off the left post.

Coulibaly had missed a great chance early in the match when he crossed a side-footer from close range after Akliouche had brilliantly penetrated the penalty area on the left and set him up at the penalty spot.

«I have two feelings. First, a feeling of pride. I told my players that if we could make PSG doubt, that would already be a success,» Pocognoli said. «Secondly, I’m a little frustrated. What would have happened if we had ended up with 11 players?»

PSG coach Luis Enrique acknowledged that his team struggled at times.

«We are not used to teams coming here and playing like us. It was very difficult in the first half,» he said. “But what we have shown this season is our resilience and our ability to bounce back.”

PSG will face five-time champions Barcelona or two-time winners Chelsea in the last sixteen.

Akliouche is playing for a place in France’s World Cup squad and his performances may have boosted his chances of inclusion.

The skilled 24-year-old midfielder made his debut in the French national team last September and scored against Azerbaijan two months later.

Last season he scored a stunning bicycle kick for Monaco in a Ligue 1 match, rising to meet Vanderson’s cross from the right and turning in the air to volley the ball home with his left foot.

Akliouche also played for France when they reached the final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Published on February 26, 2026