Manchester City's Champions League hopes hang by a thread tonight after surrendering to a stunning comeback from Paris Saint-Germain.
After conceding goals to Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland at the start of the second half, the situation looked bleak for Paris Saint-Germain, which started the evening outside the qualifying positions in the revamped table.
But substitute Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barkula inspired a thrilling response with both men scoring before Joao Neves scored a late third to send the Parc des Princes fans wild. There was still time for Goncalo Ramos to add a fourth goal to rub salt in City's wound.
The win moves PSG up to 22nd place, and City are now in danger of missing out. Pep Guardiola's men sit in 25th place, two points behind Stuttgart, and their final game against Club Brugge next week will now be a must-see.
Manchester City slips into the Champions League elimination zone after losing to Paris Saint-Germain 📉 pic.twitter.com/sgLURKV5rB
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
Paris Saint-Germain starts brightly
Perhaps sensing the gravity of the situation, PSG started well, with Ederson blocking Desire Doe's shot inside five minutes before Neves headed over the bar from close range.
Gianluigi Donnarumma blocked Kevin De Bruyne's shot on the other side, but it was a rare attack for City, which was mainly playing in defence, and credited defender Yusko Gvardiol for preserving the tie after 26 minutes.
The visitors failed to clear a corner kick, and from the ensuing melee, Fabian Ruiz unleashed a shot that required Croatia defender Gvardiol to knee the ball to safety from his own goal line.
Although they were relying heavily on counterattacks, it almost paid off for the English champions when Phil Foden crossed the ball to Savinho on goal, albeit from a tight angle, but the Brazilian's shot was blocked by Donnarumma.
After surviving this horror, Paris Saint-Germain almost took the lead one minute before the end of the first half. Achraf Hakimi was on the end of a fluid move, finishing past Ederson, but the goal was disallowed after Nuno Mendes was ruled slightly offside in the build-up.
Grealish is making an impact
Guardiola brought on Grealish and Rico Luis for Ruben Dias and Savinho in the second half and the double substitution produced immediate results.
Manuel Akanji raced down the right flank and crossed for Bernardo Silva, and although Donnarumma blocked the Portuguese's effort, the ball fell to Grealish and he fired high into the net.
Jack Grealish put Man City ahead just minutes after taking to the pitch
It's his first Champions League goal of the season 💪
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
City fans had barely stopped celebrating in the Parisian rain when Haaland made it 2-0 three minutes later with Grealish again involved.
After latching on to Matheus Nunes's pass, the England winger raced down the left flank and Vitinha deflected his cross into Haaland's path and made no mistake from close range.
You start coming back
PSG's Champions League dream was fading fast, but they showed tremendous courage to find their way back.
Dembele, who was also introduced at the end of the first half, pulled one back, latching on to Barkola's cross to fire past Ederson and it was 2-2 on the hour mark, Doe's shot rebounding off the crossbar into Barkola's path and deflecting the ball. Direct shot into the net via the left post.
Ousmane Dembélé scores a goal for Paris Saint-Germain 👀
Three goals were scored in the last six minutes between the two teams 🤯
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
PSG were in complete control and City looked in shock.
Barkola fired an acrobatic effort over the bar, Dembele shot high and wide when he should have done better before the former Barcelona winger smashed a shot against the crossbar past Ederson.
Nieves finds a third
It seemed only a matter of time before the pressure ended and Paris Saint-Germain scored the goal they deserved 12 minutes before the end of the match, as Neves headed into the net at the far post in the absence of any City defender close to him.
Paris Saint-Germain returns against Man City 🤯
After trailing 2-0, Joao Neves scored to give PSG the lead
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
The outstanding Dembele scored another goal that was ruled out for offside and then made a fine save from Ederson as PSG went for the jugular.
Substitute Ramos had a shot blocked by Ederson from close range, but there was nothing the Brazil international could do when another Ramos effort, with the final kick of the game, was awarded after a lengthy VAR check.
