By 90min | Created at 2025-01-22 22:14:03 | Updated at 2025-01-23 01:09:18
3 hours ago
Paris Saint-Germain staged a remarkable comeback to down Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
This was billed as the showcase event of Matchday 7 despite both sides' struggles in Europe, with the stakes only enhancing the occasion. PSG's start was bright with 19-year-old Desire Doue testing Ederson's palms early, while City had success going long.
Kevin De Bruyne drew a save out of Gianluigi Donnarumma before Erling Haaland had a header easily saved by the Italian after some tidy work from Phil Foden.
The hosts' co-ordinated work without the ball meant every build-up sequence was a slog for City, who required perfection (or a little bit of luck) to progress upfield. A slick pattern towards the end of the half saw Savinho get in behind but Donnarumma saved again.
Then, just before the break, PSG thought they'd taken what arguably would've been a deserved lead through Achraf Hakimi, but Nuno Mendes was ruled offside in the build-up following VAR intervention.
Some would suggest the opening period was 'cagey' but the second half was nothing of the ilk. City seemed to enter cruise control after scoring twice after the restart, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scoring from close range, but PSG responded in an instant, and they were back level on the hour.
Bradley Barcola inspired the hosts, with the winger teeing up Ousmane Dembele after leading Matheus Nunes for dead, before rebounding Doue's effort which crashed off the bar past Ederson.
All the momentum was with Enrique's side, and City failed to settle at 2-2. The fifth goal was only heading one way, and the superb Joao Neves struck the decisive blow as he headed home from a PSG free-kick at the back post. Shellshocked, Guardiola's side failed to respond and Goncalo Ramos added gloss to the scoreline with the last kick of the game.
City now need a win on matchday eight just to get into the playoff round mix.
Bradley Barcola inspired PSG's fightback / THOMAS SAMSON/GettyImages
GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma | 6.3/10 |
RB: Achraf Hakimi | 7.1/10 |
CB: Marquinhos (c) | 6.7/10 |
CB: Willian Pacho | 6.2/10 |
LB: Nuno Mendes | 7.6/10 |
CM: Vitinha | 8.1/10 |
CM: Joao Neves | 8.9/10 |
CM: Fabian Ruiz | 7.3/10 |
RW: Desire Doue | 7.1/10 |
CF: Kang-in Lee | 6.9/10 |
LW: Bradley Barcola | 8.7/10 |
SUB: Ousmane Dembele (46' for Kang) | 8.6/10 |
SUB: Goncalo Ramos (61' for Doue) | 7.3/10 |
SUB: Warren Zaire-Emery (61' for Fabian) | 6.4/10 |
SUB: Lucas Hernandez (81' for Barcola) | 6.1/10 |
Subs not used: Arnau Tenas (GK), Matvey Safonov (GK), Axel Tape-Kobrissa, Lucas Beraldo, Presnel Kimpembe, Yoram Zague, Senny Mayulu, Marco Asensio.
Man City player ratings (3-2-4-1)
Jack Grealish had an immediate impact off the bench / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages
GK: Ederson | 5.1/10 |
CB: Manuel Akanji | 5.9/10 |
CB: Ruben Dias | 6.6/10 |
CB: Josko Gvardiol | 5.1/10 |
CM: Mateo Kovacic | 6.1/10 |
CM: Bernardo Silva | 4.9/10 |
RM: Matheus Nunes | 6.9/10 |
AM: Kevin De Bruyne | 6.8/10 |
AM: Phil Foden | 7.0/10 |
LM: Savinho | 6.1/10 |
CF: Erling Haaland | 7.5/10 |
SUB: Rico Lewis (46' for Dias) | 6.7/10 |
SUB: Jack Grealish (46' for Savinho) | 7.2/10 |
SUB: James McAtee (70' for De Bruyne) | 6.9/10 |
SUB: Ilkay Gundogan (70' for Kovacic) | 6.0/10 |
SUB: John Stones (78' for Nunes) | 6.1/10 |
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Scott Carson (GK), Max Alleyne, Jacob Wright, Nico O'Reilly.
