City left with must-win final game after PSG set-back

The Blues saw a two -goal lead slip against the impressive French champions who responded with an outstanding fight-back

After a goalless first-half, quickfire second period goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland looked to have set City on the road to a priceless victory.

But two goals in four minutes for PSG wiped out our advantage in the blink of an eye, a third from Joao Neves 12 minutes from time and a Gonçalo Ramos fourth with the last kick of the game gave the Ligue 1 champions a dramatic 4-2 win.

In spite of the disappointment, a win against Club Brugge next week will see the Blues progress into the play-off round.

What happened...

In the pouring Parisian rain, City  and PSG embarked on a night of Champions League destiny.

Nothing would be decided for certain, though a win would make nest week’s final fixture more comfortable for one of these teams while a draw would mean winning that last league stage game would be vital.

PSG are a different beast these days.

Luis Enrique is quietly building a side without marquee names, egos and mega pay packets, replaced instead by solid performers willing to work hard, chase and harry .

The home side were denied an early goal on five minutes when Ederson pushed away Doué’s angled shot

Joao Neves had an even better chance on 10 minutes as he headed over the bar from six yards following a free kick on the right.

City had to soak up pressure before a counterattack on 13 minutes saw Kevin De Bruyne’s shot comfortably saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

And only a fine Josko Gvardiol clearance off the line denied Fabian Ruiz a certain goal on 27.

Some of our passing was slightly off kilter with possession given away on several occasions – much to the chagrin of Pep Guardiola – but Savinho’s’ angled effort on 40, well saved by Donnarumma again, reminded the hosts that the Blues carried a threat on the break.

On the stroke of half-time, it seemed PSG had finally broken City’s resolve as Nuno Mendes’ cross was eventually turned in by Hakimi – but VAR ruled it our for Mendes being a fraction offside in the build-up.

At the break, Guardiola replaced Savinho and Ruben Dias – the latter shown a yellow card in the first period – with Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis.

That meant a defensive reshuffle with Gvardiol moving to centre-back and Lewis slotting in at left-back.

The changes had a dramatic and almost immediate effect.

Manuel Akanji’s superb burst into right of the PSG box ended with a cross that was only half-cleared to Grealish who thumped the ball home from close range on 50.

Three minutes later, Haaland was on hand to turn home Grealish’s deflected cross to make it 2-0.

But the Blues’ goals merely served to shift PSG up a gear and two goals in four minutes from the hosts - Ousmane Dembélé (56) and Bradley Barcola (60) completely turned the game on its head.

City needed a period of calm as the noise inside the Parc des Princes rose to a crescendo , but PSG looked dangerous whenever they attacked.

On 70 minutes, Dembele nutmegged Lewis before hammering a shot against the crossbar with Ederson beaten.

The PSG press was forcing errors and the Blues were struggling to get the ball up field, and Guardiola took action replacing De Bruyne and Kovacic with James McAtee and Ilkay Gundogan.

City’s miserable second-half worsened on 78 minutes when a free-kick from the right found the head of Joao Neves unmarked at the far post to make it 3-2.

Echoes of our second-half against Feyenoord will inevitably be drawn, but this was more about PSG’s excellence rather than the Blues losing concentration.

In added time, VAR overruled the on-field officials’ decision to disallow a Gonçalo Ramos goal for offside to complete the Blues’ misery.

But our Champions League campaign it is far from over., with a huge game at the Etihad next Wednesday.

Teams

PSG: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Fabian Ruiz (W. Zaïre-Emery 61), Neves, Vitnha, Lee (Dembele 46), Doue (Gonçalo Ramos 61), Barcola (Hernández 81)

Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpem,  Asensio, Mayulu, Beraldo, Zague, Tape

CITY:  Ederson, Nunes (Stones 78) , Akanji, Dias (Lewis 46), Gvardiol, Kovacic (Gundogan 70), De Bruyne (McAtee 70), Bernardo, Savinho (Grealish 46), Foden, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Wright, Alleyne, O’Reilly

Pep reaction

“Am I angry?] No. They were better. The players suffer and they were better.

“They had better intensity to win duels. We found our moment to score two goals and go 0-2. When they have the ball they drop us but when we have the ball we create problems for them.

“At 0-2 and 1-2 we could not play. To defend, you have to have the ball. They were better. They had an extra man in the middle with a false nine and that’s why it was difficult.

“They were better, and we have to accept it. We have the last chance at home against Brugge and we will do everything there. If not, it’s because we don’t deserve it.”

What it means...

City must beat Club Brugge to progress to the Champions League play-off round.

Victory would take City above the Belgians - and into the top 24 - and if Stuttgart beat PSG and Sporting beat Bologna - the French side would then exit the competition. 

So, as disappointing as this result is, our destiny is very much still in our own hands.

What’s next?

City are back in Premier League action with another tough test this Saturday.

The Blues will host Chelsea on 25 January, with a 17:30 kick-off (UK) before our Champions League date with destiny against Brugge, also at the Etihad, the following Wednesday, 29 January, kick-off 20:00.

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