Paris Saint-Germain produced a remarkable comeback in the Champions League after losing 4-2 at Manchester City on Wednesday night.
This was billed as the showpiece event of Round 7 despite both sides’ struggles in Europe, and the stakes only heightened the occasion. PSG’s start was bright with 19-year-old Desiree Doue testing Ederson’s palms early on, while City were successful for long periods.
Kevin De Bruyne saved from Gianluigi Donnarumma before Erling Haaland’s header was easily saved by the Italian after good work from Phil Foden.
The hosts’ co-ordinated work without the ball meant every build-up sequence was a mouthful for City, who needed perfection (or a bit of luck) to progress forward. A slick pattern towards the end of the half saw Savinho get in behind but Donnarumma saves again.
Then, just before the break, PSG thought they had taken what might have been a deserved lead through Achraf Hakimi, but Nuno Mendes was adjudged to be offside in stoppage time following VAR intervention.
Some would suggest that the opening period was ‘cagey’ but the second half was nothing like that. City seemed to go into cruise control after scoring twice after the restart, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scoring from close range, but PSG he answered in an instant, and they went back to the clock.
Bradley Barcola inspired the hosts and the winger produced Ousmane Dembele after heading Matheus Nunes at the dead end, before turning in Doue’s effort which crashed wide of the post past Ederson.
All the momentum was on Enrique’s side, and City failed to equalize at 2-2. The fifth goal was only one way, with the brilliant Joao Neves scoring the decisive header from a PSG free-kick at the back post. Shocked, Guardiola’s team failed to respond, and Goncalo Ramos put the finishing touches on the score with the last kick of the game.
City now need a win in the eighth round just to enter the play-off round.
*Ratings are provided by FotMob*
|
Position / Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
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 |
|
UNDER: Ousmane Dembele (46′ for Kang) |
8.6/10 |
|
UNDER: Goncalo Ramos (61′ for Doue) |
7.3/10 |
|
UNDER: Warren Zaire-Emery (61′ for Fabian) |
6.4/10 |
|
UNDER: 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.
*Ratings are provided by FotMob*
|
Position / Player |
Evaluation |
|---|---|
|
GK: Ederson |
5.1/10 |
|
CB: Manuel Akanji |
5.9/10 |
|
CB: Ruben Dias |
6.6/10 |
|
CB: Josko Guardiol |
5.1/10 |
|
CM: Mateo Kovačić |
6.1/10 |
|
CM: Bernardo Silva |
4.9/10 |
|
RM: Matheus Nunes |
6.9/10 |
|
in the morning: Kevin De Bruyne |
6.8/10 |
|
in the morning: Phil Foden |
7.0/10 |
|
LM: Savinho |
6.1/10 |
|
CF: Erling Haaland |
7.5/10 |
|
UNDER: Rico Lewis (46′ for Dias) |
6.7/10 |
|
UNDER: Jack Grealish (46′ for Savinha) |
7.2/10 |
|
UNDER: James McAtee (70′ for De Bruyne) |
6.9/10 |
|
UNDER: Ilkay Gundogan (70′ for Kovacic) |
6.0/10 |
|
UNDER: John Stones (78′ for Nunes) |
6.1/10 |
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Scott Carson (GK), Max Alleyne, Jacob Wright, Nico O’Reilly.
Player of the match – Joao Neves (PSG)
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