Paris Saint-Germain travelled to Manchester City as the first team to play at the Etihad Stadium since the Premier League club were found guilty on 114 charges in related to financial breaches. PSG ensured to compile the misery securing a 4-2 victory against the Manchester outfit thanks to an imperious first half showing.
A game of two halves
Les Parisiens have been criticised this season for their lacklustre start to the new season as the reigning and defending French and European champions. With the capital club looking up rather than looking down in the league, more was expected at the start of the new season given the investment in Luis Enrique’s squad. Although PSG’s results had turned a corner with 4 wins from 4, facing the Premier League leaders presented the first firm test of the season for the Ligue 1 champions.
PSG couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match. Three quick goals in the first half put the Parisien club in a commanding position heading into the break. The forward line caused havoc for the City defence with Doué starring with the openning goal before two minutes later setting up his international teammate in Ousmane Dembélé inside 15 minutes.
A three goal deficit presented an almost unasailable position for the Citizens with a comeback from a home team three goals down in the Champions League at the break only being overturned once since 1993. However, with three half-time changes, City were rejuvenated. The inclusion of the talented Bouaddi in the middle of the park gave the Manchester club a platform to build on with their pressure from wide area with constant deliveries into the box, Haaland reduced the deficit.
Akliouche restored PSG’s 3-goal margin with a flukey goal due to a Donnarumma error but the hosts continued to search for a way back and pushed – finding the post, the crossbar and seeing Gvardiol’s effort cleared on the line before Haaland scored his second of night which only proved to be a consolation. Les Parisiens showed steel to deny the English club but were outplayed in the second half. In the end, 4-2 flattered the French club after a shaky defensive display in the second half.
Dazzling Doué
The Rennes academy product is no stranger to producing big performances on the biggest stages after being named man of the match in a UEFA Champions League final, and that trend continued against Manchester City. Playing a fluid role in attack, the French international ran riot in the opening 45 minutes. Doué sparked the game into life with some beautiful feet before an even better finish from distance to give PSG the lead.
After opening the scoring, the Frenchman wasn’t finished there. Found by Dembélé in space at the far post, he played a floated reverse ball back towards the near post, executing a delightful one-two, with the Ballon d’Or winner capping the move off with a header to double PSG’s lead inside the opening 15 minutes. In addition to his goal creating exploits, the 21-year-old showed he has a barrel of tricks to work with, unleashing some superb skill, tricks and flicks to evade his marker and work his way out of tight spaces.
Shampagne football
With two of Europe’s biggest teams meeting in the league phase of the continent’s premier knockout competition, neutrals couldn’t have asked for a better match to feast their eyes upon. The opening 45 minutes presented PSG’s best performance of the season thus far. Les Parisiens started the season slowly and people questioned whether they were able to reach the same levels which saw them win this competition less than 6 months ago, and they answered that question emphatically with a sparkling display. The front line made it impossible for the City defence to contain with a constant of fluid movement and interchanging of positions to create space. Luis Enrique’s side also dominated the midfield battle with an extra body in the middle of the park.
Given the grey cloud of the 114 charges which currently hangs over the Etihad Stadium, many would have expected PSG to further compile misery and keep on scoring in the second-half. PSG did score after the break but this wasn’t reflective of their second half performance. Manchester City dominated the second half from start to finish and found away back into the game with two goals from Erling Haaland. However, this wasn’t enough to comeback from an almost insurmountable position. Despite it being a losing cause, the Premier League turned what looked like a one-sided beatdown into a UEFA Champions League classic. The game had everything, 41 attempts, goalkeeping errors, missed penalties and standout performers – some might have called it ‘shampagne football’.