While the other Ligue 1 clubs cross swords on the lawns of France, the Champions Trophy delivered its verdict this Sunday at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar. Paris Saint-Germain, double title holder and winner of 10 of the last 11 editions, had the objective of starting this crucial month of January with a first title this season, before playing for their survival in the Champions League against Manchester City then Stuttgart. For its part, AS Monaco had a defeat to forget against the Parisians in December (3-2), and a message to send about their ability to challenge the national supremacy of Luis Enrique’s players. For this beautiful display, the Parisians were organized in a 4-3-3 with Gianluigi Donnarumma who officiated as the last defense. In front of him, we found Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi. Warren Zaire Emery, Vitinha and Joao Neves found themselves in midfield. Lee Kang-in and Désiré Doué accompanied Ousmane Dembélé in attack. For their part, the Monegasques were structured in a 4-2-3-1 with Philipp Köhn in the cages behind Vanderson, Thilo Kehrer, Mohammed Salisu and Caio Henrique. The midfield was provided by Aleksandr and Denis Zakaria. In front, George Ilenikhena took the lead in the attack with Eliesse Ben Seghir, Takumi Minamino and Maghnes Akliouche at his side.
PSG
1
90’+2
O. Dembélé
Monaco
0
finished
The first period started with an intense pace. The Parisians rushed in transition on the right side with Hakimi at the helm who crossed at the entrance to the area. Dembélé’s strike was blocked by the defense (2nd). On a free kick on the right side, Lee Kang-in curled the ball at the near post towards the feet of Dembélé, who fired a shot without momentum, but Salisu was able to clear after the firm hand of Köhn (3rd). Punishment was very close for Monaco. Köhn missed his recovery for Kehrer, who saw Doué rush behind him, steal the ball and follow up with his right foot. Köhn deflected the former Rennais’ attempt onto his crossbar (9th). The intensity of the Monegasques was also rewarded on the right side, Vanderson was able to double then cross at the near post. The ball was slightly deflected to fly past Akliouche and Donnarumma was able to lay on it (16th). Dembélé was then found in the axis 20 meters away. He attempted a cross-foot strike, but Köhn relaxed to catch it in two stages (22nd). The former Barcelona player was still at work afterwards. He accelerated full axis, rushed between the lines, relied on Nuno Mendes but crushed his shot from the right, directly on Köhn (23rd). Lee himself took charge of this free kick obtained on the right side, and served Vitinha behind who crossed from the right. His shot narrowly missed Köhn’s opposite post (30th). As the break approached, the Monegasques appeared threatening again behind a high ball. Akliouche had space in the center, organized himself quickly and struck from the right from 20 meters. Donnarumma reacted quickly to push back to his right (40th). ASM finished this first period better. Golovin lifted a ball into the area that was poorly cleared by the Parisians. He returned to Minamino on the right side who continued with his back to goal, finding Donnarumma on his path (43rd). The Parisians put their foot back on the accelerator just before the break. The ball traveled well to Lee who unleashed a nice left-footed shot from 20 yards. Köhn deflected over his goal for a corner (44th). After taking charge of the corner on the left, the South Korean offered himself in the area, cleared Salisu and followed up with force from the right without hitting the target (45th + 2).
A very intense return from the locker room!
In the second half, Monaco came back very well, like the end of the first act. The Monegasques finally found full axis verticality, Ilenikhena threw Minamino in front of him, but he saw Nuno Mendes storm out to beat him into the area (48th). On the following action, Akliouche was unable to continue in the area, locked in and unbalanced between three Parisians, but Monaco was very offensive (51st). PSG tried to react with Dembélé. The Frenchman followed well with good control oriented to present himself against Köhn. The goalkeeper rushed to his feet to intervene without making a mistake (52nd). Immediately after, the game was turned around for Vanderson who completed a superb dribble, transplanted in front of the area and shifted Ben Seghir to his left who opened his foot. Donnarumma relaxed to his right to deflect for a corner (53rd). The pace picked up and the ball went from one goal to the other. In transition, PSG went up to Dembélé on the left side who feinted then found Doué in front of goal. His attempt did not deceive Köhn who was keeping pace (54th). Big chances kept coming on both sides. Ben Seghir on the left provoked in front of Marquinhos, accelerated then centered. On the other side, Vanderson found the post in a tight angle (55th). PSG tried to delay after a few wild minutes. Hakimi offered himself in the axis, Doué served Dembélé on the left side who put Hakimi back in front of the goal. At point blank range, he came up against Caio Henrique (57th). At the hour mark, everything remained undecided in this 2025 Champions Trophy. After a big phase of sterile possession for PSG where the pace dropped significantly, the first changes were made on the Parisian side.
Luis Enrique notably brought in Bradley Barcola and Fabian Ruiz, then Gonçalo Ramos. Likewise in Monaco with the entries of Breel Embolo and Lamine Camara. Hakimi relied on Dembélé to rush into the area on the right side and strike from a tight angle. Köhn’s firm left arm saved ASM (73rd). Zaire-Emery committed a pressing foul on Minamino. The Japanese then managed a good press to steal the ball from Nuno Mendes and try his luck on the right. Donnarumma was vigilant to repel the danger (78th). PSG wanted to exploit the entry into play of a real scorer and therefore crossed in for the head of Ramos, beaten in the air. Monaco was suffering 10 minutes from time (83rd). Despite other changes from Adi Hütter who was clearly aiming for the penalty shootout, the Monegasques pushed on their last chances. On a free kick on the right side, the ball was put in front of the goal, bounced 6 meters away, but Donnarumma was able to lie on it (88th). In added time, Köhn made his ninth and final save. Ruiz, launched on the left, crossed with first intention. In front of the goal, Ramos opened his foot from close range and stumbled on the goalkeeper’s good exit (90th + 1). As the match almost came to an end, PSG made the difference at the end of this indecisive match. Mayulu offered himself on the left, deflected for Ruiz in front of him who crossed. Ramos was too short but Dembélé, alone behind him, was able to score in the empty goal (90th + 3, 1-0). And this is how PSG won the trophy by the smallest of margins (1-0).
