Manchester City were beaten for the first time in eight matches by Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain despite a battling performance at the Etihad Stadium.
A record European home crowd of 60,021, saw the French champions race into a three-goal first half lead through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.
Erling Haaland pulled a goal with a record-breaking 37th European goal for City before the comeback was hit by a fourth from Maghnes Akliouche.
But Enzo Maresca’s kept fighting for the points with Enzo Fernández and Haaland hitting the woodwork before the Norwegian pulled another goal back.
Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a late penalty from Ferran Torres but the French champions saw out the win.
The match in brief
There were fireworks before kick-off and an explosive start from the French side who showed their attacking menace in the opening quarter of an hour with two goals in two minutes.
Doue was on the end of a quick break to drive in a low shot from the edge of the box before sending over a cross to the far post that was headed home by Dembele.
It was a painful blow after a promising start that saw City push the French side back with Marquinhos potentially fortunate to get away with a clumsy challenge on Rayan Cherki inside the box.
And from the corner, goalkeeper Matvei Safonov punched the ball against his own crossbar although the referee subsequently gave a foul against Marc Guéhi.
Buoyed by the two-goal margin, the visitors continued to threaten with Achraf Hamiki heading against the inside of the post before Vitinha rounded off a quick move with a well-taken third.
City went close to pulling a goal back when Joško Gvardiol headed narrowly wide and Jérémy Doku forced a save from Safonov but the half ended in frustration.
Enzo Maresca made a triple substitution at half-time and it almost paid immediate dividends with Haaland teeing up Antoine Semenyo but his effort was deflected wide and then headed Enzo Fernández just wide.
But Iliman Ndiaye was stretching the visitors’ defence and after forcing a point-blank save from Safonov, his teasing cross was flicked home by Haaland.
The momentum was with City until the French side added a fourth with their first shot of the half when Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to keep out Akliouche’s effort from 20 yards.
Still City kept fighting with Gvardiol’s header cleared off the line, Fernandez striking the corner of post and bar and Haaland also hitting the top of the woodwork.
The Norwegian found the back of the net again on in the 75th minute when he finished off Ayyoub Bouaddi’s low cross.
A hat-trick and potential barnstorming finished was denied by a desperate save from PSG’s Russian keeper before Donnarumma then frustrated former Blue Ferran Torres from the penalty spot.
Heading clear
Haaland’s header was his 37th goal for Champions League, surpassing Sergio Aguero on 36 in the tournament proper.
It’s a phenomenal record as he overtook our record goalscorer in all competitions, who also scored a hat-trick in a Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest which is not counted in his 36 goals tally.
Haaland’s total has come from just 41 games and a second took his overall tally in the competition to 61, moving him into seventh.
Welcome back Pep!
Tonight’s match was the first time that Pep Guardiola returned to the Etihad Stadium following his remarkable decade-long reign.
It was an opportunity to see his close friend in PSG boss Luis Enrique but also to be back at the Club that he loves after 10 years here.
There’s no doubting that Manchester has had a big impact on him and, still does, judging by his traditional flat cap.
But it was wonderful to see him back at the stadium, even though it wasn’t quite the result he would have wanted.
MARESCA REACTION
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PLAYER REACTION
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WHAT IT MEANS
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WHAT’S NEXT
We’re back at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday when we return to Premier League action with the visit of Ipswich Town at 15:00 (UK).
Our next game in the Champions League is also at the Etihad, on Tuesday, 20 October with a 20:00 (UK) kick-off.
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