Error code: %{errorCode}
Question marks over reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain ahead of crunch Champions League play-off with Monaco
Reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain are preparing to face domestic rivals Monaco in a two-legged play-off to reach the last 16 of the Champions League .
Here, DAZN News assesses the form of Luis Enrique’s star-studded side as they bid to secure a safe passage into the knockout phases.
Achieving the Holy Grail
For a club as ambitious as Paris Saint-Germain, winning the Champions League for the first time last term was hugely significant.
They hammered Italian aristocrats Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich’s Allianz Arena in the most one-sided final in the competition’s illustrious history.
The success was secured with goals from Achraf Hakimi, Désiré Doué (two), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu and the managerial nous of Luis Enrique.
But it went deeper. The Parisian giants were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments in 2011 and before last season, they had suffered so many near misses and heartbreak in the Champions League.
The demolition of Inter got a huge monkey off their backs and also saw them complete a glorious quadruple following success in winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
It was also a fitting way to honour the memory of Enrique’s daughter Xana, who died of cancer in 2019 at the age of nine.
Playing fantastic football with a young, hungry squad, PSG blew nearly everyone away in the latter stages of last season with devastating pace, passing and pressing.
They began this season looking like a team who could dominate for some time to come.
Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images
This season’s Champions League form
Enrique’s side won half of their eight league-stage games and also drew two, with a points haul of 14, leaving them in 11th place and outside of the automatic qualification places.
At times, they have shown glimpses of their brilliant, beguiling best.
The French giants, whose first game of the new season saw them beat Tottenham Hotspur on penalties to win the European Super Cup, kicked off their Champions League defence with a 4-0 home win over Serie A outfit Atalanta.
Then came a 2-1 win at Barcelona before a stunning 7-2 victory at Bayer Leverkusen in October.
At that point, Enrique's side looked a decent bet to finish in the top eight and automatically qualify for the last 16.
But they hit trouble with a 2-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich in early November before thumping Tottenham 5-3 in Paris three weeks later.
Then came a goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao before a 2-1 loss at Sporting and a 1-1 draw at home to Newcastle consigned them to the play-offs.
It means they will face Monaco, having failed to win their last three Champions League games.
A huge wobble in the league
Despite failing to hit the heights in their recent Champions League games, PSG have flexed their muscles domestically in recent games as they look to retain the French title.
Or at least they did until losing 3-1 at Rennes on Friday night before being replaced at the summit the following day by Lens following their Wesley Saïd-inspired 5-0 romp over Paris FC.
Since being held at home by Newcastle in their final game on the Champions League group stage, though, Enrique’s men have generally shown some welcome signs of their old, expansive selves.
They won 2-1 at Strasbourg and thumped Marseille 5-0 at home, a result which prompted Roberto De Zerbi to leave his role as manager of the vanquished visitors.
The result saw PSG register their biggest-ever win in the Classique and also marked their seventh straight Ligue 1 win, the longest current streak across Europe’s five big leagues along with Real Madrid.
But Friday's loss at the hands of Rennes gave cause for concern.
Despite having 69% possession at Roazhon Park, as well as hitting the target six times from 17 shots, PSG were undone by an upwardly mobile Rennes side who are shaking up the Ligue 1 table.
Dembele scoring again but post-match comments a cause for concern
At the Parc des Princes, PSG have recorded eight clean sheets in their last 10 league games, which is providing a platform for their attacking players to shine.
Arguably, their greatest talent is Dembele, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner who has scored three goals in his pas two games to signal a return to something approaching his devastating best.
He had a low-key league phase after his early season injury, but he's coming into form and fitness just at the right time for PSG's European defence.
However, after Friday's loss at Rennes, Dembele gave a damning post-match interview where he said that that playing for the club must come before self-interest.
Enrique hit back at his star man, saying: "The players' statements after the match are worthless. Absolutely worthless.
"Neither are the coaches' statements, but the players' statements are worthless. I'm not going to answer any question from a player, any response from a player."
(C)Getty Images
What sort of threat will Monaco pose?
PSG’S Ligue 1 rivals finished way down in 21st in the Champions League group stage after eight games.
That ensured they will play PSG in a two-legged play-off for a place in the last 16 with the Parisians enjoying home advantage in the decisive second leg.
Domestically, Monaco eighth in Ligue 1 after a fairly inconsistent campaign.
However, Sebastien Pocognol's side have already beaten the Parisians this season in the league, when a goal from Japan international Takumi Minamino gave them a 1-0 win in the Principality on November 29.
Thus, Monaco will believe they can cause an upset by dumping one of the favourites out of the competition.
Yet PSG are no strangers to the play-offs, having navigated their way through this stage en route to winning the competition in 2025, and they will be huge favourites to progress to the last 16.
Full Champions League fixture list for knockout play-offs
Tuesday, 17 February
- Galatasaray vs. Juventus
- Benfica vs. Real Madrid
- Borussia Dortmund vs. Atalanta
- Monaco vs. Paris Saint-Germain
Wednesday, 18 February
- Qarabag vs. Newcastle United
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Inter Milan
- Club Brugge vs. Atletico Madrid
- Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
How to watch Monaco vs PSG in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Monaco vs PSG in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
