AS Monaco vs Paris Saint-Germain: The Host Wants to Take the Champion's Seat

JAKARTA - A fight between fellow French representatives will be presented in the knockout stage of the Champions League when AS Monaco hosts defending champions Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Louis II, Tuesday night, February 17 or Wednesday morning WIB. This is the first meeting between the two teams in the European competition, although at the domestic level their rivalry has often presented intense matches.

Monaco have fond memories of PSG at home after a narrow 1-0 win in a Ligue 1 meeting last November. The result could be an important morale boost ahead of the two-legged duel that will determine the step into the last 16.

For the second consecutive season, Monaco managed to reach the Champions League knockout stage. This achievement is worth appreciating considering their journey in the league phase was unstable. The team coached by Sebastien Pocognoli had to go through the first three matches without a win (two draws, one loss), before rising with two wins from the next three matches.

Even so, the two victories were the only ones they achieved from a total of eight league phase matches. The 6-1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on matchday seven had threatened the chance of qualifying, but the goalless draw against Juventus in the last match was enough to secure 21st place in the final standings - just one point above the elimination limit.

Now, Monaco are hunting for a ticket to the last 16 for the sixth time in their last 11 participations in the Champions League. However, they are also overshadowed by a poor record in the knockout phase, after losing the last five two-leg duels in the European competition, including a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Benfica in the same stage last season.

However, their home performance is quite promising. Monaco are unbeaten in their last four home games in the Champions League (one win, three draws), even recording three consecutive clean sheets. The toughness was also seen last weekend when they beat Nantes 3-1 in Ligue 1. However, the victory was only the second in the last eight games in all competitions, making them still in eighth place in the domestic standings.

On the other side, PSG came with less than ideal emotional conditions after losing 3-1 to Rennes. The defeat dropped Luis Enrique's team to second place in the Ligue 1 standings and was their third defeat in 10 matches throughout 2026.

Previously, Les Parisiens were also eliminated from the Coupe de France after losing to local rivals Paris FC, as well as losing 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon on matchday seven of the Champions League league phase. A 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the last league match left them in 11th place, two points behind the top eight who qualified automatically for the last 16.

With that position, PSG must go through the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Last season, they passed this stage convincingly after crushing Brest 10-0 on aggregate. The record gives additional confidence ahead of the away match to Monaco.

Statistically, PSG won 10 of the last 15 knockout matches in the Champions League. They also recorded seven wins out of the last 10 away matches in this competition. However, the visit to Stade Louis II is not an easy task. PSG only won one victory in the last six visits to Monaco's home, with last November's defeat being the fourth in that period.

Monaco got good news because Aleksandr Golovin's red card against Nantes did not apply in the European competition, so he could appear in this match. However, their injury list is quite long.

Lukas Hradecky, Takumi Minamino, and Mohammed Salisu are still absent due to knee injuries. Kassoum Ouattara, Eric Dier, and Paul Pogba are also out due to calf problems. Pape Cabral is unavailable due to a muscle injury, while Lamine Camara and Maghnes Akliouche are doubtful after suffering problems in the last match.

Defender Thilo Kehrer, who made more than 100 appearances for PSG between 2018 and 2022, is predicted to have extra motivation against his former club.

At PSG's camp, Quentin Ndjantou is absent due to a hamstring injury that has not recovered. Fabian Ruiz is also confirmed to miss the sixth consecutive match due to a knee injury. The good news is that Ousmane Dembele still showed sharpness by scoring an entertaining goal against Rennes, making him three goals in the last two matches. He has an impressive record against Monaco with seven goals from nine meetings.

Monaco has a strong capital at home and often makes it difficult for PSG at the Stade Louis II. However, the storm of injuries that hit the home team's squad could be a crucial factor. With the depth of the squad and more mature experience in the knockout phase, PSG is predicted to be able to steal a narrow victory in the first leg.

Monaco (4-2-3-1): Kohn; Vanderson, Teze, Kehrer, Henrique; Zakaria, Coulibaly; Fati, Golovin, Adingra; Balogun.

Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3): Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Zaire-Emery, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia.

Monaco 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain.