Football Features

    “Does he ever make a mistake?” – Player ratings as Man City come back to beat PSG and secure Champions League qualification

    By Muhammad Butt

    Published: 22:26, 24 November 2021


    In a phenomenal night of football, Manchester City came from behind to beat PSG and advance to the Champions League round of 16.

    Pep Guardiola’s men dominated the majority of the match but fell behind away. However City showed serious quality and resilience to rebound and score the goals to turn it around.

    Here’s how the players rated at the Etihad:

    Manchester City

    Ederson – 6 – Did what little he had to do well. Passed superbly.

    Kyle Walker – 7 – Put Neymar in his back pocket (but lost track of Messi when the Argentine attacked him) and made a phenomenal pass back across goal for the City equaliser.

    John Stones – 7 – Defended well. Moved the ball well.

    Ruben Dias – 7 – Handled Neymar, Messi and Mbappé really well. An imperious display.

    Joao Cancelo – 8 – Exceptional again as he dominated the game. Had more touches (99) than anyone and completed 73/84 passes including a game-high 41 in the PSG half. Really good.

    Rodri – 8 – Unlucky header cleared off the line in the first-half, then pulled a majestic diagonal pass out of nowhere for City equaliser.  Attempted and completed the most passes (88/92) as he ran the show.

    Ilkay Gundogan – 8 – Helped City dominate the game and made so many killer runs, including one in the lead-up to the winner.

    Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7 – Played well, but wasn’t quite at his best.

    Riyad Mahrez – 8 – Looked a constant menace to PSG, beat men for fun and had a surefire goal cleared away by Hakimi. His beautiful cross led directly to the game-winning goal.

    Bernardo Silva – 8 – Completed 100% of his passes at false nine. 47/47. Including the soft and silk assist for the game-winner. His touch was absolutely feather-soft as he naturally laid a divine touch back for Jesus to crucify PSG. Does he ever make a mistake? Miraculous.

    Raheem Sterling – 8 – Ran at PSG time and time again, causing problems and havoc. Scored a really good equaliser for City with a bold, instinctive finish. A difference-maker yet again.

    Substitutes:

    Gabriel Jesus (for Zinchenko 54′) – 8 – Changed the game with his presence, driving through the middle of the pitch he made it so hard for PSG to both build out of the back but also keep City so easily at bay. Scored the game-winner with a sharp-as-a-razor improvised finish.

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    PSG

    Keylor Navas – 7 – Made several big saves to keep Manchester City at bay. Could do nothing about either City goal.

    Achraf Hakimi – 6 – A superb block to prevent a Mahrez goal early in the first-half but just couldn’t get involved as an attacking presence despite his overwhelming athletic gifts. PSG just didn’t

    Marquinhos – 8 – The PSG captain put in a perfect display of blocking, clearing, tackling. Passed out of the City press so superbly. Was great and deserved more.

    Presnel Kimpembe – 8 – A massive performance from the French defender as he repeatedly put his body on the line. Without his blocks this would have been a massacre.

    Nuno Mendes – 7 – Defended his flank really well and played a part in PSG’s goal. Was forced off through injury.

    Leandro Paredes – 5 – A battling display at the base of midfield. Better than his midfield team-mates but that’s a low bar.

    Ander Herrera – 4 – A complete non-event. Subbed off injured.

    Idrissa Gueye – 4 – Battled hard to try and stem the City tide. Didn’t really work.

    Leo Messi – 6 – Some ridiculous moments of skill including delicious nutmegs, but PSG cut off his supply for the most part. One of the few times PSG got him on the ball in the final third he created the opening goal, but was too isolated.

    Kylian Mbappé – 7 – Missed a great chance at the end of the first half on his 50th UCL appearance, but managed to get that celebratory goal when Messi’s cross was deflected into his path. Buried the ball between Ederson’s legs. Looked lively in motion.

    Neymar – 4 – What happened to him? One delightful dribble aside, the Brazilian was a shadow of his former self who lost the ball a game-high 9 timnes.

    Substitutes:

    Danilo (for Ander Herrera 60′) – 4 – Didn’t do anything terrible but he was somehow worse than Herrera.

    Angel Di Maria (for Gueye 67′) – 6 – Looked as bright as any PSG attacker off the bench. Drove at City and tried to make things happen.

    Thilo Kehrer (for Nuno Mendes 67′) – 4 – Didn’t protect his flank at all and it’s no coincidence that the winning goal came from his flank.

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