PSG v Monaco: comeback win boosts Monaco for Champions League | OneFootball

This Wednesday, February 25, Paris Saint-Germain faces AS Monaco at Parc des Princes (kick-off at 9 PM, broadcast on Canal+) in the second leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League playoffs (2-3 in the first leg). And as before every match, here is the presentation of the Parisians' opponent.

Monaco's Situation –

The Monaco project seemed to follow that of PSG for a while in the 2010s, then it was preferred to sell players for profit rather than trying to build the best possible team. This led to many changes each year and somewhat complicated periods.

There was hope for stability with the arrival of coach Adi Hütter in July 2023 and a well-thought-out transfer market, but the crisis returned by the end of summer 2025 with disappointing results given the objectives. The German was replaced in October by Sébastien Pocognoli (who made a name for himself at Union Saint-Gilloise).

The Belgian brought interesting things at first, but inconsistency persists and the project still seems quite large. The Monaco club is currently 8th in Ligue 1, eliminated in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France by Strasbourg, and thus in the Champions League playoffs.

Since the first leg, Monaco overturned a 2-0 deficit at Lens to finally win 2-3. A result that benefits PSG in the league but also helps build confidence for the situation to turn around in the Champions League.

The Summer 2025 Transfer Market –

Source: Transfermarkt.

Departures:

Arrivals:

The Winter 2025-2026 Transfer Market –

Source: Transfermarkt.

Departures:

Arrivals:

Main Statistics –

This season in the league phase, Monaco is among the 30th best attacks in the Champions League with 8 goals scored (the first, Arsenal, has 23, and the last, Villarreal and Slavia Prague, have 5), and is among the 17th defenses with 14 goals conceded (Arsenal has the best defense with 4 goals conceded, the last, Kairat Almaty, has 22).

The top scorer for Monaco is Folarin Balogun (24-year-old forward), with 3 goals he is 29th in the UCL (the first is Kylian Mbappé with 13 goals). Maghnes Akliouche (30-year-old midfielder) is the club's top assist provider with 2 assists and he is 47th in the UCL (the top assist provider is Vinicius Junior with 5 assists).

Monaco's Matches in the Champions League –

Only Monaco's possession is indicated and Monaco's shots are listed first (when data is available).

09/18/2025 – Club Bruges/Monaco: 4-1. In 4-4-2. 52% possession. 12 shots with 5 on target against 21 shots (9 on target).

10/01/2025 – Monaco/Manchester City: 2-2. In 3-4-3. 33% possession. 10 shots with 7 on target against 18 shots (7 on target).

10/22/2025 – Monaco/Tottenham: 0-0. In 3-4-2-1. 56% possession. 21 shots with 9 on target against 10 shots (4 on target).

11/04/2025 – Bodo/Glimt (down to 10 men in the 82nd minute, 0-1)/Monaco: 0-1. In 3-4-2-1. 37% possession. 10 shots with 3 on target against 14 shots (5 on target).

11/26/2025 – Paphos/Monaco: 2-2. In 3-4-2-1. 51% possession. 15 shots with 7 on target against 12 shots (3 on target).

12/09/2025 – Monaco/Galatasaray: 1-0. In 4-2-3-1. 42% possession. 15 shots with 5 on target against 11 shots (2 on target).

01/20/2026 – Real Madrid/Monaco: 6-1. In 4-2-3-1. 47% possession. 18 shots with 6 on target against 23 shots (7 on target).

01/28/2026 – Monaco/Juventus: 0-0. In 4-2-3-1. 50% possession. 11 shots with 5 on target against 4 shots (0 on target).

02/17/2026 – Monaco (down to 10 men in the 48th minute, 2-2)/PSG: 2-3. In 4-2-3-1. 27% possession. 7 shots with 4 on target against 28 shots (12 on target).

The Squad:

Absentees – Cabral, Diatta, Dier, Hradecky, Minamino, Salisu, Pogba, Ouattara (injury), Golovin (suspension).

The Probable Team in 3-4-3.

Coulibaly – Balogun- Akliouche

Henrique – Bamba – Camara – Vanderson

Faes – Zakaria – Kehrer

Köhn

Monaco's Playing Style.

As at Union Saint-Gilloise, Pocognoli is trying to establish an offensive style of play. This also suits the squad, except there are adaptation difficulties and physical issues. Ultimately, the team has distinguished itself more defensively in the league phase. But it is also capable of major errors, as seen in the first leg (like the penalty conceded by Faes).

The Monegasques mainly posed problems for PSG with aggressive pressing or with some quick transitions. Therefore, the Parisians will need to be very attentive throughout the match this time to avoid conceding goals like in the first leg. There will undoubtedly be opportunities, especially since Monaco is obliged to seek victory. The key is to regain effectiveness.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.