The French Champions Trophy, a curtain-raiser to the French football season and akin to the Super Cup or Community Shield, unfolded in Doha’s Stadium 974, a venue repurposed from the 2022 World Cup. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), dominant force in French football, clashed with Monaco, aiming to secure their 11th Champions Trophy in 12 seasons. The match, initially slated for Beijing, found its home in Qatar, the very nation that owns PSG through Qatar Sports Investments. The stadium, though a world-class venue, witnessed a less than capacity crowd for this prestigious encounter.
PSG, fresh from a domestic treble the previous season, sought to replicate their dominance, eyeing the Champions Trophy as the first piece of silverware in their quest for another treble. Their recent league form, including a commanding 4-2 victory against Monaco, punctuated by a Dembele brace, had propelled them to a comfortable 10-point lead atop Ligue 1, leaving Monaco and Marseille trailing in their wake. This match, therefore, presented an opportunity for Monaco to disrupt PSG’s momentum and make a statement of intent.
The early stages of the match saw PSG assert their dominance, creating several promising opportunities. Desire Doue’s early effort rattled the crossbar, following a defensive lapse from Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Koehn. Vitinha and Lee Kang-in further tested Koehn, forcing the young goalkeeper into a series of impressive saves. Monaco, however, were not mere spectators. Maghnes Akliouche’s strike forced a save from PSG’s veteran goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, signaling their intent to challenge the Parisian giants.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with both sides creating chances. Eliesse Ben Seghir tested Donnarumma early after the restart, while Vanderson’s effort struck the post, highlighting Monaco’s growing confidence. Despite Monaco’s resilience, PSG maintained their offensive pressure, probing for the breakthrough that would secure the trophy. The match remained finely balanced, with neither side able to capitalize on their chances, leaving the prospect of a penalty shootout looming large.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, with penalties appearing increasingly inevitable, the deadlock was finally broken. Substitute Fabian Ruiz, introduced late in the game, made a decisive impact. Exploiting space on the left flank, Ruiz delivered a perfectly weighted low cross across the face of goal, finding Ousmane Dembele unmarked at the far post. Dembele, who had already proven his scoring prowess against Monaco earlier in the season, calmly slotted the ball home, securing a dramatic late victory for PSG.
Dembele’s last-gasp goal not only delivered the Champions Trophy to PSG, but also underscored the team’s resilience and ability to find a way to win, even when faced with stubborn opposition. The victory, though hard-fought, reinforced PSG’s status as the dominant force in French football, extending their impressive run of success in the Champions Trophy. For Monaco, despite a spirited performance, the defeat served as a reminder of the gap that still exists between them and the reigning champions. The match, played out in the backdrop of the iconic Stadium 974, provided a fittingly dramatic conclusion to the French football calendar year.
