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Manchester City’s Champions League ambitions are hanging by a thread after they squandered a 2-0 lead to suffer a demoralizing 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain. Jack Grealish had come off the bench to score and set up another goal for Erling Haaland, putting the 2023 winners on course for a crucial victory at the Parc des Princes.
However, in a dramatic second half, PSG staged an incredible comeback, leveling through Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola before Joao Neves headed home to put the hosts ahead. Goncalo Ramos sealed the win with a fine strike in stoppage time, leaving City needing a victory over Club Brugge in their final game to reach the play-off round.
PSG, who had been the better team in the first half, leapfrogged Pep Guardiola’s side to keep their own chances of progressing alive. The defeat leaves City outside the top 24 in the league phase, while PSG’s victory boosts their hopes of advancing.
The match was played in pouring rain, and the conditions did little to dampen the tension. PSG started well, with Desire Doue testing Ederson early on, and Ruben Dias was booked for crudely halting a charge from Achraf Hakimi. Neves headed over from the resulting free-kick.
City threatened when Phil Foden had a shot blocked and Kevin De Bruyne’s follow-up was pushed away by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Haaland also headed tamely at the keeper. PSG went close again when a long-range Hakimi effort was saved by Ederson and Vitinha had a shot deflected wide.
Fabian Ruiz looked certain to score from the resulting corner but Josko Gvardiol cleared off the line. City survived a major scare on the stroke of half-time when Nuno Mendes got behind the defense and squared across the box for Barcola to tee up Hakimi.
However, Hakimi’s goal was disallowed after VAR showed Mendes marginally offside in the build-up. City capitalized on the reprieve, stunning PSG with two goals inside the opening eight minutes of the second half. Grealish pounced on a rebound to smash home from close range after Manuel Akanji beat Mendes to set up Bernardo Silva.
Grealish was involved again as City doubled their lead moments later. This time he was the provider as his cutback was deflected into the path of Haaland at the back post. The Norwegian made no mistake with a typically emphatic finish.
But as quickly as City had built their position of strength, they managed to squander it. Dembele was soon into the action, racing on to a ball from Barcola on the left to sweep home after 56 minutes. That lifted the crowd, and City were undone again on the hour as Doue struck the bar.
The ball bounced back towards Barcola, and he deftly clipped back over Ederson to score off the post. PSG continued to attack in waves, and Neves stooped low to meet a Vitinha free-kick and head past Ederson in the 78th minute.
There was no way back for City, who had another let-off when a Dembele goal was disallowed. VAR did not come to their rescue in stoppage time, however, as Ramos’ effort was ruled onside, sealing the win for PSG.
