Wednesday’s blockbuster Champions League clash came at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City hosted Paris Saint-Germain.
It was the Premier League leaders at home to the European champions as the dominant pair looked to claim an early scalp in the competition. Admittedly, at this stage of the Champions League, results mean relatively little.
Even so, it’s the chance to gain a momentum-building three points. In the process, victory would ease potential concerns over missing out on a knockout spot.
PSG had the early advantage despite playing away from home. The defending European champions are the more settled of the two teams. Luis Enrique has guided this side to successive European titles. He’s pushing for a Threepeat.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, is working with an inexperienced squad. City have started the domestic campaign well. The meeting with PSG was a whole different level.
City did start brightly, and saw an early penalty appeal waved away. Matvey Safonov then punched a corner onto his bar, while Antoine Semenyo fired the rebound over the bar. That a foul was called on the Russian goalkeeper spared Semenyo’s blushes.
It was the wake-up call PSG needed. Desire Doue ruthlessly exposed Gianluigi Donnarumma’s questionable positioning by firing in a low drive to put the French side in front. Ousmane Dembele doubled PSG’s advantage a minute later.
Enrique’s side continued to push and push for a third, forcing Donnarumma into action more than once. Right-back Achraf Hakimi headed against the post as PSG battered the Premier League side, and they were duly rewarded for their dominance with a third on the half-hour mark. Vitinha tucked past Donnarumma following a neat Warren Zaire-Emery flick.
City started to grow into the game after the opening 30-minute beatdown, but only had a Jeremy Doku shot on the stroke of half time to show for their efforts. That said, Safonov was equal to the Belgian’s chance.
Unsurprisingly, Maresca changed things up for the second half as Matheus Nunes, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye replaced Ruben Dias, Rayan Cherki and Doku. The switches had a positive impact, handing City greater control in midfield, and they came close to pulling one back early on as Semenyo and Enzo Fernandez sought to get the better of Safonov.
The PSG goalkeeper then pushed an Ndiaye shot away moments before Erling Haaland headed the Senegal international’s cross past Safonov as City pulled one back early in the second half.
City were in the ascendency but PSG took the wind out of their sails on the hour mark. Maghnes Akliouche controlled a Dembele pass well, before turning and letting fly from the edge of the box. Donnarumma looked to have denied the Frenchman, but his save was poor as the ball bounced over the line as the visitors re-established their three-goal lead.
Maresca’s men continued to push for a second, and needed a fine Nuno Mendes clearance to deny Josko Gvardiol a goal. Fernandez then struck the crossbar from range with Safonov well beaten. Haaland then woodwork after connecting with Gvardiol’s deep cross.
And City were rewarded for their prolonged pressure in the 75th minute as Haaland rounded off a fine City move involving Semenyo, Fernandez, and Bouaddi. As the clock ticked towards the 90, Safonov was on hand to deny Haaland and City a third after the Norwegian was picked out by Nunes.
With time running out, Mendes won a penalty having been fouled by Nunes. Donnarumma was equal to Ferran Torres’ tame effort from 12 yards to give the Cityzens hope of a late comeback. None was forthcoming, however, as PSG held out for a fin 4-2 win.
Bouaddi introduction gives City a fighting chance
Enzo Maresca made a selection error for the welcome of PSG. The Manchester City boss stuck with his favoured 4-2-3-1 setup, with Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez anchoring the team.
Against PSG’s 4-3-3 system, this was a mistake. Rayan Cherki started in the number 10 role, yet the decision handed the French giants midfield superiority. Maresca was made to rue for the setup.
PSG dominated early on and were three goals to the good with 30 minutes on the clock. The introduction of Ayyoub Bouaddi saw City gain a stranglehold on the game. On the balance of play, they were the better side in the second half.
While it was too little, too late for City, Bouaddi’s 45-minute cameo gave Maresca food for thought going forward. The Morocco international was superb on the ball after replacing Cherki, and gave City the control in a key area that was found wanting in the first half.
Akliouche deployment crucial for Doue
Luis Enrique again plumped for Maghnes Akliouche on the right flank in his preferred 4-3-3 formation. The Frenchman started in the attack at the expense of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has more or less been a regular in Ligue 1 this season.
Much of that was again due to Akliouche’s defensive work. While a handy creator, the former Monaco man works hard off the ball, and in dropping deeper, it granted Desire Doue the space on the opposite side to wreak havoc.
Leaving Abdukodir Khusanov isolated against Doue wasn’t ideal. The Uzbekistan international backed off his French counterpart before the PSG star beat Donnarumma from range for the away side’s opener. It was Akliouche’s selflessness that allowed Doue to cause chaos.
PSG ride out the storm
PSG were all over City in the opening half hour. That’s to be expected when you go three goals up. While it took City until then to actually get going, the French side were able to, largely, repel everything thrown their way.
It was a similar story to City at Liverpool on Sunday. They were on the backfoot for the opening exchanges before gaining a foothold in the game. It goes without saying that PSG are a level above the Reds in the final third.
What this meant was City had a mountain to climb after the break, though was one they did come close to scaling. They battered PSG in the second half. To their credit, the Ligue 1 giants rode out the storm to gain all the spoils.