Paris Saint-Germain breathed a sigh of relief after a dramatic 2-2 second-leg draw with Monaco propelled them into the UEFA Champions League last 16 on a 5-4 aggregate scoreline. Played under the lights at Parc des Princes, the match delivered edge-of-the-seat action right to the wire.
The visitors from Monaco drew first blood just before halftime courtesy of Magnes Akliouche’s brilliant finish. PSG’s fortunes turned when Mamadou Koulibaly saw red for a second booking, leaving Monaco shorthanded. Marquinhos equalized with a towering header from Desire Doué’s delivery, igniting the stadium.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia then struck from a rebound to hand PSG the lead, only for Jordan Teze to level in added time. Despite the late scare, PSG’s first-leg advantage held, booking their knockout berth.
Luis Enrique praised his team’s resolve: ‘Qualification was ours, but we faced constant pressure. We’re built for tough fights—our group was brutal with opponents like Qarabag or Monaco. Ahead lie Chelsea and Barca; we’re primed for the challenge.’
In another upset, Galatasaray stunned Juventus with extra-time heroics, advancing 7-5 overall. Down 3-0 after the first leg, they dragged the tie to extras after Lloyd Kelly’s dismissal. Locatelli and Gatti scored for Juve, McKennie tied it at 5-5, but Osimhen and Yilmaz struck late for a memorable triumph.