The second leg between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff carries heightened tension after a first meeting that left the tie finely balanced.
For PSG, the attacking spark of players such as Ousmane Dembele could prove decisive, especially in a match where momentum can shift quickly and the aggregate score dictates the broader strategy.
With no margin for error at this stage, every goal, setback or late surge influences the road ahead. The outcome will not only determine progression, but also shape the tone of the club’s European ambitions in the weeks to come.
What happens if PSG beats Monaco?
A win for Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes would solidify their grip on this knockout tie after an already thrilling 3-2 first-leg victory in Monaco, where PSG overturned a two-goal deficit to take the lead in the tie.
Such a result would mean PSG advance straight to the UEFA Champions League round of 16, as aggregate goals over the two legs determine progression — there’s no away goals rule in the current format.
Ousmane Dembele of PSG during a UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match (Source: Franco Arland/Getty Images)
In practical terms, a second-leg victory would punctuate PSG’s resilience and keep alive their hopes of going deep as defending champions, especially with key attacking players like Desire Doue thriving and capable of influencing big moments.
What happens if PSG and Monaco tie?
A draw on the night wouldn’t immediately decide anything; are the tie would still be balanced on aggregate and could push the tie into extra time. With PSG leading 3–2 from the first leg, a one-goal draw on the night would level the overall score after 180 minutes.
Under current Champions League knockout rules, if teams are still tied on aggregate at the end of normal time in the second leg, 30 minutes of extra time follow — consisting of two 15-minute periods. If neither side breaks that deadlock, a penalty shootout decides who advances.
In such a scenario, both clubs would need to balance risk and reward: PSG hoping to avoid a lottery, and Monaco banking on the dramatic momentum of leveling the tie and forcing that extra chapter of the tie.
What happens if PSG loses to Monaco today?
A loss on the night for the PSG would flip the entire tie in favour of AS Monaco. After the first leg, their slender aggregate advantage means Monaco could overturn the deficit and go through with a straight win.
Any defeat would hand the tie to Monaco outright, eliminating the holders and marking a major upset for the campaign of the French champions, who carried that slim lead into the second leg at home.
Given how finely poised the tie already is, a Monaco win would underline the unpredictable nature of this Champions League format, where every minute and every goal counts toward both summer dreams and sudden exits.
