The Ballon d’Or winner, already hampered by injuries this season, was replaced in the 26th minute by Désiré Doué, who quickly turned the game around for PSG. Doué scored twice and contributed to another goal as PSG rallied from a 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead heading into the return leg next Wednesday in Paris.
Early Injury Forces Dembélé Off
Dembélé, who had been doubtful for the match due to a leg problem, appeared in visible discomfort shortly before leaving the pitch, rubbing the back of his left calf and adjusting his sock.
“We know what shape each player is in. No risk, he trained normally,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “We'll have to see if there's an injury. He took a knock in the first 15 minutes, then he couldn't run.”
The French forward, PSG’s top scorer last season with 35 goals, has struggled with fitness since the start of the campaign, having been sidelined earlier while playing for France and previously at Barcelona, where injuries repeatedly interrupted his playing rhythm.
Doué Steps Up
Doué made an immediate impact after entering the game, scoring two goals and helping set up another. He pulled one back for PSG just two minutes after coming on, finishing with a low shot into the bottom right corner. He celebrated by cupping his hands over his ears, appearing to block out recent criticism of his performances.
“The coach makes his choices. It's always a collective effort whether we win or lose. The most important thing is to win in this kind of game,” Doué said.
PSG leveled the match at 2-2 before halftime when Doué’s shot was parried by Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn, landing at Achraf Hakimi’s feet, who slotted a low strike into the bottom left corner. Doué then scored his second in the 67th minute from a pass by Warren Zaïre-Emery, guiding a low shot into the right corner.
A Chaotic First Half
The match featured a tense start, with Monaco’s Aleksandr Golovin sent off early for a foul on Vitinha and a missed penalty from Vitinha in the 22nd minute, saved by Köhn. PSG had been trailing 2-0 before mounting their comeback, showcasing resilience despite Dembélé’s early exit.
Tuesday’s performance underlined PSG’s depth and collective effort, but also renewed concerns over Dembélé’s ongoing injury struggles, raising questions about his availability for upcoming fixtures in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.