PSG beat Monaco to scale through to last-16

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain have progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after defeating AS Monaco 5-4 on aggregate in the playoffs.

The holders had gone into the game following a 3-2 win at the Stade Louis 2 last week.

Sebastien Pognoli’s men were their own problem as they got reduced to ten men, the Paris club to punish them.

The visitors had restored parity on aggregate as Mamadou Coulibaly threaded a ball through to Maghnes Akliouche to score on the dot of Halftime to reward them for a good first-half performance.

With the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, PSG seems out of ideas as Monaco had gone toe to toe with them, stifling the midfield to shut out any creativity from the hosts.

However, what caused them in the first leg hunted them at Parc des Princes again when the midfielder was handed a second yellow card for a needless foul on Achraf Hakimi.

PSG immediately used the advantage and equalised from the Desire Dou’s low pass to  Marquinhos.

The hosts completed the turnaround through Kravastelia, who pounced on a rebound from Hakimi’s shot.

Les Parisiens had maintained possession, making the added man advantage count while Monaco were just looking to keep the scoreline down. 

However, they restored parity in the added time with their first attack since being a man down and got a lifeline through Jordan Teze, who has scored three goals in the competition this season.

But it was all too late for them to force the tie not an extra time as PSG progressed to the last 16.

Luis Enrique’s side will meet either Chelsea or Barcelona in the round of 16. 

PSG will have to up their game if they have to progress against either side, as they could punish them for their defensive frailties.

The draw for the round of 16 will be made on Friday.