Monaco 2-3 PSG Player Ratings: Ligue 1 Side Pulls Off Breathtaking Comeback Against 10-Man Hosts | UCL

UEFA Champions League delivered a dramatic night at Stade Louis II as AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain played out a thrilling contest. Monaco started the match at a furious pace and quickly took control. Folarin Balogun scored twice within the opening 18 minutes, leaving PSG struggling to settle. The home side continued to press, but PSG were given a lifeline when Vitinha failed to convert a penalty, which was saved by goalkeeper Philipp Köhn.

The turning point came through a substitution. Désiré Doué was introduced and made an immediate impact by scoring to reduce the deficit. PSG carried that momentum into the closing minutes of the first half, when Achraf Hakimi scored the equaliser.

The second half changed soon after the restart as Monaco midfielder Aleksandr Golovin was sent off following a VAR review. With a numerical advantage, PSG took control of the match and completed the comeback when Doué scored his second goal. PSG held on for the win in a match full of drama and momentum shifts. In this article, we'll discuss Monaco vs PSG player ratings from the UCL clash.

Key Takeaways

1. Folarin Balogun scored twice in the opening 18 minutes to give AS Monaco early control.
2. Substitute Désiré Doué changed the game by scoring twice for Paris Saint-Germain.
3. Aleksandr Golovin was sent off after a VAR review, allowing PSG to dominate the second half.

PSG Player Ratings vs Monaco

Check out PSG player ratings from the UCL game against Monaco:

Goalkeeper

Matvey Safonov - 5.5: We thought he looked a bit shaky early on. Beaten twice by Balogun, perhaps he could have done better on the second. He wasn't tested much after Monaco went down to 10 men. Made a couple of decent saves later but the damage was done early. A quiet evening overall after the initial storm.

Defenders

Achraf Hakimi - 8.5: What a performance. He was a constant threat down the right flank and a true leader in the comeback. Scored the vital equalizer with a composed finish. Beyond the goal, he created five chances and was PSG's main creative outlet for large spells. An absolute engine who refused to accept defeat.

Marquinhos - 6.0: The captain looked unusually rattled in the opening 20 minutes. Balogun's movement caused him all sorts of problems. He did settle as the game progressed and was more composed in the second half against 10 men. Still, not the commanding performance we expect from him.

Willian Pacho - 6.5: His passing was immaculate, not misplacing a single one. However, he was part of a backline that was torn apart in the opening exchanges. He won all his duels which is a credit to him. A solid, if unspectacular, performance in a chaotic game.

Nuno Mendes - 6.5: Full of energy and always willing to bomb forward. From our perspective, his end product was just not there tonight, losing possession 20 times is far too much. He worked tirelessly and was defensively better in the second half. A mixed bag of a performance.

Midfielders

Vitinha - 7.0: A very strange game to rate. The missed penalty was a dreadful moment and could have been fatal. But, my word, he ran the midfield. With 126 touches he was everywhere, dictating the tempo and trying to drag his team back into the game. His resilience after the penalty miss was impressive.

Warren Zaïre-Emery - 8.0: He plays with a maturity far beyond his years. Provided the assist for the winning goal and was a creative force throughout. His decision-making is just top-class. What stood out to us was his composure in a frantic midfield battle. A brilliant display.

João Neves - 7.0: The midfield enforcer. He was a machine, recovering the ball 10 times and getting stuck in. He did miss a big chance which blemishes his rating slightly. But his work rate was immense and provided the platform for the attackers to shine.

Forwards

Ousmane Dembélé - 5.0: We were surprised to see him hooked so early, but it was the right call. He was completely anonymous in his 27 minutes on the pitch. He barely got a touch and offered nothing. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 7.5: He was a livewire all night. Won the penalty with his quick feet and was PSG's most direct threat for much of the game. He took a staggering eight shots, but his radar was just off. If he had his shooting boots on, he could have had a hat-trick.

Bradley Barcola - 6.5: Showed flashes of brilliance with his dribbling. He grabbed an assist for Hakimi's goal which was a crucial contribution. However, he also missed a big chance and sometimes his decision-making let him down. A decent outing but needs more consistency.

Substitutes

Désiré Doué - 9.0: The Man of the Match. An absolutely game-changing substitution. He came on with his team 2-0 down and completely flipped the script. Scored two massive goals, showing composure and clinical finishing. We can't overstate his impact, a truly heroic performance.

Manager

L. Martínez García - 7.5: He gets immense credit for his bold and decisive substitution. Taking off Dembélé for Doué was a masterstroke that won his team the game. His team looked lost initially but he managed to rally them. A huge tactical victory for him.

Monaco Player Ratings vs Paris Saint Germain

Here are Monaco player ratings from the match against PSG:

Goalkeeper

Philipp Köhn - 8.5: What more could he do? He was simply outstanding. The penalty save was a moment of pure brilliance and kept Monaco's two-goal lead intact. He made seven saves in total, some of which were world-class. Despite conceding three goals, he was one of the best players on the pitch.

Defenders

Vanderson - 5.5: He had a torrid time against PSG's attacking onslaught. He was defensively suspect and struggled to cope with the pace and movement. It was no surprise to see him substituted after 70 minutes. A difficult night for the full-back.

J. Teze - 6.0: He was busy all night, making a number of important tackles and clearances. However, he was part of a defensive unit that was ultimately overwhelmed. He fought hard but it was a thankless task after the red card.

Wout Faes - 4.0: A night to forget for the defender. From our perspective, he was a liability. He clumsily gave away the penalty and earned a yellow card for his troubles. He looked shaky and off the pace throughout. A very poor performance.

Caio Henrique - 5.0: Similar to his fellow full-back, he was pinned back for most of the game. He struggled to make any impact offensively and was caught out of position defensively on a few occasions. His passing was particularly poor, completing only 64%.

Midfielders

Denis Zakaria - 6.5: The captain battled hard in the middle of the park. He made some important tackles and tried to shield his defence. However, he was fighting a losing battle after his team went down to 10 men. A tireless effort in a losing cause.

Lamine Camara - 6.5: An energetic and combative display. He won the majority of his duels and was a disruptive force in midfield. His influence on the ball was limited, but his defensive work rate was commendable.

Aleksandr Golovin - 4.5: From hero to villain. He started the game superbly, providing a brilliant assist for the opening goal. But his red card early in the second half was an act of madness. It completely changed the game and ultimately cost his team the result. A moment of recklessness he will regret.

Maghnes Akliouche - 7.0: He was excellent in the first half. He set up the second goal with a perfectly weighted through ball and was a constant creative threat. It was a shame to see him substituted, as he was one of Monaco's best players.

Forwards

Simon Adingra - 6.0: He had his moments, especially on the counter-attack. He got into some good positions but lacked the final product. He worked hard for the team but couldn't quite make a telling impact.

Folarin Balogun - 8.5: Absolutely unplayable for the first 20 minutes. His two goals were taken with supreme confidence and clinical precision. He looked like he would win the game on his own. Service to him completely dried up in the second half, but his first-half display was sensational. Monaco's highest rated player for sure.

Substitutes

Krépin Diatta, Mamadou Coulibaly, Aladji Bamba, Mika Biereth - N/A: The substitutes came on when the team was down to 10 men and chasing the game. They worked hard but were unable to change the course of the match against a dominant PSG.

Manager

S. Pocognoli - 6.0: His team's start was a tactical masterpiece. They were aggressive, direct, and clinical. However, his team couldn't maintain their composure after conceding. The red card left him with an impossible task. A game of two halves for the manager.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Desire Doue who scored a brace for PSG.

Worst Performer

Wout Faes failed to leave a mark in the Monaco vs PSG match.