In a tense and closely contested match, AS Monaco suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions Trophy final held in Doha. Despite an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Philipp Köhn, the decisive goal from Ousmane Dembélé in added time sealed the victory for the Parisians.
The Red and Whites, seeking their fifth Champions Trophy title and looking for revenge after a December loss to PSG, entered the game with determination. Adi Hütter, fresh off a contract extension, fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation, with George Ilenikhena leading the attack. Eliesse Ben Seghir, Takumi Minamino, and Maghnes Akliouche provided support, while Aleksandr Golovin and the recently recovered Denis Zakaria anchored the midfield.
PSG started strong, testing Köhn early. The Monaco keeper was in stellar form, denying Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Vitinha in the first half. Monaco responded with promising chances of their own, including a sharp strike from Maghnes Akliouche and a near goal from Takumi Minamino, both thwarted by PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma. The first half ended goalless, with both sides missing opportunities to break the deadlock.
The second half saw Monaco come close again, with Eliesse Ben Seghir nearly converting and Vanderson striking the post in a chaotic sequence of play. As the match progressed, Hütter introduced fresh legs, including Breel Embolo and Lamine Camara, in an effort to find the breakthrough.
Köhn continued to shine, making critical saves against Achraf Hakimi and Gonçalo Ramos. However, PSG’s relentless pressure paid off in the 92nd minute when Dembélé found space at the far post and slotted the ball home, delivering the decisive blow.
Monaco pressed for an equalizer in the dying moments but were unable to find the net. The narrow loss leaves the Principality club to regroup as they turn their focus back to Ligue 1, with an upcoming away fixture against Nantes on Friday, January 10.
