Following a perfect tactical performance and relentless all-out pressing, the Rouge et Blanc once again brought down the leader of the French league for the second time this season (1-3).
They got their revenge! Narrowly eliminated in the Champions League playoffs, AS Monaco 's players delivered another stellar performance in Matchday 25 of Ligue 1 McDonald's, defeating league leaders PSG 3-1 and climbing to fifth place in the standings. This fourth consecutive victory in the top flight was secured at the Parc des Princes in the presence of President Dmitry Rybolovlev. Recap. ✍️
Only a few days after the second leg of the Champions League playoffs (2-2), AS Monaco faced PSG once again, in their 100th Ligue 1 encounter. Having delivered a strong performance that evening, the Rouge et Blanc knew what it takes to trouble the league leaders. It's an approach they'll be eager to replicate as they continued their impressive run in the top flight (six matches unbeaten).
It's not the same setup as a two-legged Champions League tie, but the context remains the same: an away match against PSG! A team whose qualities we know, one of the best in France and Europe. We'll therefore need to be at our very best, and our performance will have to be the same as in previous matches.
For this latest match in the capital, Sébastien Pocognoli fielded the same starting eleven as in the Champions League playoff second leg. The Belgian coach has therefore opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mamadou Coulibaly and Maghnes Akliouche supporting Folarin Balogun . Aladji Bamba started in midfield alongside Lamine Camara , while Denis Zakaria retained his place in defense.
In front of 700 Monaco supporters, the match quickly became lively and a header by Denis Zakaria , on a chance similar to his goal against Lens , was just over (5′). An immediate response came from PSG and Achraf Hakimi , who was stopped by great move by Philipp Köhn (6′), before missing with an effort from range (10′). The match was well-balanced, and Maghnes Akliouche then flashed an effort over the bar (17′).
There was more success ten minutes later, when after a recovery in the Parisian penalty area by Mamadou Coulibaly , Folarin Balogun passed to the midfielder from the Academy who finished powerfully on his 100th Ligue 1 appearance (0-1, 27′). After this opening goal, which rewarded a hungry Monaco side, the match lost intensity and the halftime whistle came with Monaco holding a one-goal lead.
Right after the restart, the Parisians tried to pick up the pace, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia shooting well wide (50′). To try and counter this, Sébastien Pocognoli brought on Christian Mawissa and Aleksandr Golovin (54′). It was a successful coaching move, as with his first touch, the Russian maestro doubled the lead (0-2, 55′). It was his third goal of the season and the 16th by a Monégasque off the bench in Ligue 1 this season!
In the ensuing action, he almost sealed the match with a magnificent strike, but Matvei Safonov made a sublime fingertip save (57′). After that, the game became more frantic, and Philipp Köhn stopped a header from Nuno Mendes (62′), who then shot just wide (65′). The same was true for Bradley Barcola , whose volley sailed over the bar (69′).
Balogoal responds to Barcola
Unfortunately, the French international would pull one back almost immediately with a slightly deflected shot (1-2, 71′). Despite conceding, the Rouge et Blanc pressed forward again, and Lamine Camara's run ended with a fine strike that was turned behind for a corner by the opposing goalkeeper (72′). The Russian was helpless on the next attack, as Folarin Balogun's 25-meter effort found the next (1-3, 73′)! It was the third match in a row with a goal for him in the league and 13th overall in all competitions.
The lead was doubled again, and then Philipp was called upon to make a superb double save, first from Ousmane Dembélé and then from Gonçalo Ramos (79′), and then from Nuno Mendes' powerful effort (84′). Before that, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner had shot over the bar (80′). The Rouge et Blanc are solid defensively and dangerous on the counter, as seen in the move finished by Simon Adingra which crashed off the bar (88′).
Then, in stoppage time, Aleksandr Golovin broke into the box but was denied by his compatriot (95′), in what was the final chance of this thrilling match. AS Monaco thus won 3-1 and secured six points against PSG this season. A feat only Nancy in 2011-2012, Rennes in 2022-2023, and… the Principality club in 2020-2021 had achieved under QSI ownership!
But more than that, it's a fourth consecutive victory and a seventh unbeaten match in Ligue 1 that allows Monaco to climb the table to a provisional fifth place before the rest of the weekend. DAGHE MUNEGU!!! 🇲🇨
5′: Zakaria's header from six yards out goes just over the bar6′: Köhn makes a point-blank save from Hakimi10′: Hakimi's shot from 20 yards is too wide17′: Akliouche's left-footed attempt goes too high 27′: Akliouche beats Safonov at the near post (0-1)50′: Kvaratskhelia's shot goes wide 55′: Golovin scores with his first touch (0-2)57′: A superb fingertip save from Safonov deflects a Golovin shot62′: Mendes' header lacks power and Köhn gathers the ball65′: Mendes' shot goes just wide69′: Barcola's right-footed shot goes over the bar 71′: Barcola scores with a deflected shot at the near post (1-2)72′: Safonov makes a fingertip save after a Camara run
73′: Balogun extends the lead with a shot from 25 meters (1-3)79′: Köhn makes a save against Dembélé and then Ramos80′: Powerful shot from Dembélé from a tight angle goes over the bar84′: Köhn is sharp to keep out a powerful shot from Mendes88′: Adingra hits the crossbar with a fine shot95′: Golovin breaks into the box but is denied by Safonov
Scoring 25 seconds after coming on as a substitute, Aleksandr Golovin netted the fastest goal by a substitute in the top five leagues this season. The last player to score faster after coming off the bench for Monaco in Ligue 1 was… Golovin himself on January 6, 2021 against Lorient (10 seconds).
Friday Match 6 2026 (20:45) – Parc des Princes
Ligue 1 McDonald's – Matchday 25: PSG 1-3 AS Monaco
Halftime: 0-1
Goals: Barcola (71′) for PSG; Akliouche (27′), Golovin (55′), Balogun (73′) for AS Monaco
Bookings: Hakimi (91′) for PSG; Faes (45+4′), Balogun (71′), Camara (76′) for AS Monaco
PSG: Safonov – Hakimi ©, Zabarnyi , Pacho , Mendes – Dro (Lee, 60′), Vitinha , Zaïre-Emery – Doué (Mayulu, 60′), Barcola, Kvaratshkelia (Dembélé, 60′)
Substitutes: Chevalier, Beraldo , L.Hernandez, Marquinhos , Lee, Mayulu, Dembélé, Mbaye , Ramos
Manager: Luis Enrique
AS Monaco: Köhn – Kehrer , Zakaria ©, Faes – Vanderson ( Teze , 15′), Camara, Bamba (Golovin, 54′), C.Henrique (Mawissa, 54′) – Akliouche (Adingra, 81′), Coulibaly – Balogun (Biereth, 81′)
