American forward Folarin Balogun netted twice in the first half to give Monaco an early lead against Paris Saint-Germain in their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg. Despite the strong start, PSG mounted a comeback to secure a 3-2 victory at Stade Louis II. The win positions PSG favorably for the return leg at Parc des Princes.
The UEFA Champions League playoff phase began on February 17, 2026, with several high-stakes first-leg matches. In one of the key fixtures, AS Monaco hosted Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Louis II, where Monaco's Folarin Balogun delivered a standout performance early on.
Just 55 seconds into the game, Balogun headed in a precise cross from Aleksandr Golovin to open the scoring for the home side. He added a second goal in the 18th minute, capitalizing on a turnover by PSG. Maghnes Akliouche threaded a pass behind the defense, allowing Balogun to fire past goalkeeper Matvei Safonov and make it 2-0.
PSG entered the match under pressure following a sixth defeat of the season on the previous Friday, which prompted an outburst from star striker Ousmane Dembele about his teammates' attitude. Despite the early setback, PSG rallied in the second half to overturn the deficit, ultimately winning 3-2 according to updated results.
The aggregate winner will advance to the round of 16, with the second leg scheduled for February 25 at Parc des Princes. Last season, PSG advanced by beating Brest 10-0 on aggregate in the playoffs. This result leaves the tie open ahead of the return fixture.
Other first-leg results included Galatasaray's 5-2 victory over Juventus, Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 win against Atalanta, and Real Madrid's 1-0 triumph at Benfica.
