Folarin Balogun (C) celebrates after scoring Monaco’s third purpose of their 3-1 win over PSG. Photograph: AFP
PARIS:
US nationwide workforce star Folarin Balogun was among the many scorers as Monaco received 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain on Friday, dealing a blow to the aspect from the French capital earlier than they face Chelsea in a crunch Champions League last-16 tie.
Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco a first-half lead on the Parc des Princes and Aleksandr Golovin doubled their benefit early within the second half of the Ligue 1 conflict.
Bradley Barcola pulled one again for the reigning European champions, however Balogun struck shortly after with a fifth purpose in his final 5 video games as Monaco claimed a valuable win of their quest to qualify for Europe subsequent season.
The principality aspect have been searching for revenge after a 5-4 mixture defeat by PSG within the Champions League knockout section play-offs final month, after they squandered a two-goal lead earlier than shedding 3-2 within the first leg and got here up quick with a 2-2 draw within the return.
That outcome allowed Luis Enrique’s aspect to achieve the final 16 and they’ll now put their title on the road in opposition to Chelsea, with the primary leg in Paris on Wednesday and the return on March 17.
That will likely be a season-defining tie for PSG, who received the Champions League for the primary time final season, earlier than shedding 3-0 to Chelsea within the Membership World Cup closing.
“It’s not one of the best outcome going into the Champions League. We’re conscious of that,” mentioned Luis Enrique.
“If you play like that in opposition to a workforce in a really optimistic dynamic like Monaco, you pay for it.”
The result’s a setback for PSG of their bid to win a fifth consecutive Ligue 1 title, with closest challengers Lens now in a position to trim their lead on the prime from 4 factors to 1 by beating backside aspect Metz on Sunday.
This was PSG’s fourth league loss in 25 video games this season, as many defeats as within the final two seasons mixed.
They’ve now been overwhelmed seven occasions in all competitions in 2025/26, and 4 occasions this calendar yr.
Luis Enrique will likely be involved at how distant his workforce are from the outstanding type they confirmed within the second half of final season on their method to successful the Champions League.
“We’re clearly in issue for the time being however we have to keep hope that can change,” he added. “Confidence is not only one thing you purchase on the grocery store.”
Dembele returns
One plus was the most recent return from damage of final yr’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, who got here off the bench within the second half.
Nonetheless, he has began solely 14 of PSG’s 40 video games this season and it stays to be seen how lengthy he’ll be capable of play in opposition to Chelsea.
Monaco have been worthy winners, going forward simply earlier than the half-hour mark.
PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery gave possession away inside his personal field, and the ball ricocheted into the trail of Balogun who teed up French worldwide Akliouche to attain.
The hosts have been wasteful with their closing ball and Golovin confirmed them the way it needs to be carried out on 55 minutes, the Russian making use of a scientific first-time end along with his first contact having come on instead after Vitinha inadvertently performed the ball into his path.
PSG received one again on 71 minutes when Achraf Hakimi arrange Barcola to attain his tenth of the season with a first-time effort that took a deflection off Jordan Teze and beat Monaco ‘keeper Philipp Koehn at his close to publish.
However Monaco snuffed out the PSG comeback, Balogun’s shot from exterior the realm getting into by way of a spark off Nuno Mendes.
That was a thirteenth of the season in all competitions for the striker who is about to play a number one function for co-hosts america on the World Cup.
Monaco have received 5 and drawn two of their final seven Ligue 1 video games and at the moment are fifth within the desk.
“I’m happy with the workforce,” mentioned Monaco coach Sebastien Pocognoli. “We really feel there’s a actually optimistic momentum constructing.”
