Key Takeaways:
- Monaco twice took the lead but were held to a 2-2 draw by Pafos last night in the Champions League fifth round
- After five matches, both Monaco and Pafos remain level with 6 points each in the group
- Monaco are set to host Galatasaray next round, while Pafos will travel to face Juventus
Match Analysis
AS Monaco missed the opportunity to secure three points in Cyprus, sharing the spoils with Pafos following a dramatic 2-2 draw in their fifth Champions League fixture. Despite taking the lead on two occasions, Monaco failed to maintain their advantage, ultimately conceding a late equaliser as both sides now sit on 6 points from five matches.
Pafos stun Monaco as David Luiz scores his first UCL goal for the club 😮🇨🇾 pic.twitter.com/Z0RhBIpWyz
— 433 (@433) November 26, 2025
First-Half Action: Early Goals and Missed Chances
The visitors enjoyed a blistering start, breaking the deadlock in the 5th minute when Maghnes Akliouche threaded a clever through ball to Takumi Minamino. The Japanese midfielder clinically beat Neofytos Michail to put Monaco ahead. Pafos responded quickly, and Anderson Silva struck the post only two minutes later. The Cypriot club continued to press, with another major opportunity going begging in the 13th minute.
The home side’s persistence paid off in the 18th minute. Mislav Oršić delivered a corner kick which caught the Monaco defence napping, allowing David Luiz to rise unchallenged and head the ball into the top left corner past Lukaš Hrádecký.
Monaco were gifted the lead again on 26 minutes following a grave error from Pafos goalkeeper Neofytos Michail, whose misplaced clearance presented Folarin Balogun with a simple finish to restore the visitors’ advantage.
Late Drama Sees Points Shared
Following half-time, both sides created opportunities but it was Monaco’s Lukaš Hrádecký who produced a notable save, denying Anderson Silva in the 53rd minute. The contest reached its climax in the 88th minute, when Mislav Oršić once again delivered a cross into the area. Mohamed Salisu failed to clear and inadvertently put the ball into his own net, sealing the result at 2-2.
Implications for the Group
With the draw, Monaco and Pafos both remain tightly locked at 6 points after five rounds of group competition.
| Team | Points | Matches Played | Next Fixture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monaco | 6 | 5 | vs Galatasaray (home) |
| Pafos | 6 | 5 | vs Juventus (away) |
Looking Ahead
The upcoming round sees Monaco returning to home soil to face Galatasaray, while Pafos will be looking to upset Juventus away in Italy as the battle for progression from the group intensifies.
