Man City 2-1 PSG (Sterling 63′, Jesus 76′; Mbappe 50′)
Gabriel Jesus came off the bench to score the winner as Manchester City beat PSG 2-1 at the Etihad to secure top spot in Group A with a game to spare.
Kylian Mbappe had given PSG the lead at the Etihad with a clinically taken finish before Raheem Sterling levelled the score shortly after from close-range, with Jesus completing the comeback in the 76th minute.
Although both teams settled quickly into the contest, it was City who had the clearest chances in the opening 20 minutes, with Rodri and then Riyad Mahrez forcing goal-saving clearances from Presnel Kimpembe and Achraf Hakimi respectively.
They went even closer later on when Ilkay Gundogan fired a well-struck effort onto the base of the post but almost allowed their opponents to take the lead against the run of play just before half-time when Mbappe uncharacteristically fired over after Neymar had pressured John Stones into a mistake.
City failed to heed that warning, though, as less than five minutes after the interval, Mbappe fired a low shot through Ederson’s legs the far post to open the scoring on a milestone occasion. It was the 22-year-old’s 29th Champions League goal on his 50th appearance.
PSG’s lead last just over 10 minutes, though, as Sterling levelled with a poacher’s effort after Kyle Walker’s volleyed cross had found him at the back post. And with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, Jesus put the hosts in front, applying the finishing touches to a fine team move to ensure Pep Guardiola’s side progressed to the last-16 as group winners.
Man City player ratings
Ederson: Comfortably dealt with PSG’s first effort of the game, saving low to his left from Mendes, but could do nothing to keep Mbappe’s strike out 6
Kyle Walker: Used his recovery pace well to force Mbappe into rushing a shot at the end of the first half and then again in the second to nick the ball off the Frenchman’s toes. Played a key part in the equaliser after volleying a low ball across the box for Sterling to finish off 8
Ruben Dias: Recalled after missing the weekend victory over Everton, Dias largely dealt with the threat posed by PSG’s formidable front three 6
John Stones: Preferred to Aymeric Laporte, Stones was hugely fortunate to not get punished after his error led to a PSG counter-attack that was wasted by Mbappe 5
Joao Cancelo: City’s best player this season was largely nullified by Hakimi, but he almost replicated his phenomenal outside-of-the-boot pass for Sterling’s goal on Sunday for Jesus late on 7
Rodri: Went close to opening the scoring in the opening five minutes with a looping header at the back post. Played a superb ball over the top for Walker to latch onto in the lead up to Sterling’s goal. Booked for a foul on Paredes 8
Ilkay Gundogan: Smacked the post with a firmly struck side-footer after the ball had bounced his way. Helped City dictate the tempo by completing 61/63 passes 7
Oleksandr Zinchenko: Used in his favoured position in central midfield due to the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden. Struggled to exert his influence on the game and was replaced by Jesus 5
Riyad Mahrez: Looked lively, particularly considering his lack of game-time this season and almost broke the deadlock with a trademark curler on his left foot. Forced Navas into a couple of important saves before playing the pass before the final pass for Jesus’ winning goal 8
Bernardo Silva: Initially deployed in a false 9 role up front, Silva looked far more comfortable after being switched to the left-wing. Calmly teed up Jesus to put City in front 7
Raheem Sterling: Following a slow start to the campaign, Sterling is gradually rediscovering his form. The England international just about stretched his left foot enough to divert Walker’s cut-back into the corner for his third goal in as many club matches 7
Subs:
Gabriel Jesus: Deployed on the right wing for much of the campaign, Jesus was brought on as a central striker with City trailing and he vindicated Guardiola’s decision by bobbling the ball in from Silva’s pass 7
PSG player ratings
Keylor Navas: Had his defenders to thank in the opening 20 minutes with both Kimpembe and Hakimi making vital interventions. Made two important stops to deny Mahrez in either half and a flying stop to keep out Jesus who was adjudged to be offside 7
Achraf Hakimi: Renowned for his attacking qualities, Hakimi did brilliantly to deflect a goal-bound Mahrez effort over the top to keep his side level. Lacked his usual influence in the attacking third 6
Marquinhos: Demonstrated his intelligence and anticipation by blocking Zinchenko’s effort from inside his own six-yard-box. Defended his goal doggedly throughout 7
Presnel Kimpembe: Made a vital goal-line clearance early on to deny Rodri and then to flick the ball away from Bernardo after a Zinchenko cross 7
Nuno Mendes: Nervy start but the teenager grew into the game and had PSG’s first shot on target. Suffered a hefty knock in the second half and was replaced with just over 20 minutes remaining 6
Idrissa Gueye: Industrious as ever in the heart of midfield on his 50th appearance in European competition. Replaced by Di Maria as Pochettino sought to wrestle momentum away from City 6
Leandro Paredes: Economical in possession, completing 54/57 passes, the Argentine also got through plenty of work, making six tackles 7
Ander Herrera: Made a couple of important interceptions as City piled the pressure on but was sloppy in possession on occasion. Taken off on the hour mark after tweaking his hamstring 6
Lionel Messi: On the periphery of the game in the first half, Messi came to life at the start of the second by playing a key part in Mbappe’s opener with his low cross that was diverted into his strike partner’s path 6
Neymar: Setup PSG’s best opportunity of the first half for Mbappe after picking Stones’ pocket on the halfway line and then missed their clearest chance of the second after slaloming his way through City’s defence 5
Kylian Mbappe: Wasted a great chance by skying a shot over the bar after being fed by Neymar but made no mistake with his second chance, burying a clinical effort in the 50th minute 7
Analysis: City’s system beats PSG’s individuals
By Daniel Storey, i chief football writer
This is the type of fixture that the Champions League group stage has unhelpfully come to specialise in, two European super-heavyweights in a glamour encounter that jumps out in the August draw but doesn’t actually mean a great deal by late November. RB Leipzig’s early comfortable lead in Bruges removed all jeopardy. It gave the encounter the feel of gold-plated all-star games, both managers able to spend the build-up perfecting their #respect for each other and then releasing their superstar players out of a tunnel to entertain us.
But here’s the thing: people quite like the all-star game. As long as it’s not every week, there’s something alluring about watching two teams try to win when they are not haunted by the prospect of losing. And when two diametrically opposing systems collide, it creates a spectacle by itself. Jeopardy is usually required; sometimes fantasy is enough.
The game effectively came into life in the moments after each time Paris Saint-Germain won back possession. That created a window in which those in lighter blue tried to swarm over their opponents. PSG, for their part, attempted a series of exacting passes to link play and launch a counter attack. This was industry vs luxury, high press vs “press here for champagne”.
But individuals can never beat a system, not when the system contains players with the feather-light touch of Bernardo Silva, the spatial awareness of Raheem Sterling and the overlapping pace of Kyle Walker. Guardiola’s team tests you too much, interchanges position too often, attacks you from too many different angles for a team to defend with seven outfield players.
Read Daniel’s full report from the Etihad here
Poch watch
Mauricio Pochettino’s future dominated the pre-match discussion with the Argentine believed to feature prominently on Manchester United’s managerial shortlist.
The 49-year-old has a strained relationship with PSG’s sporting director Leonardo and was linked with a return to the Premier League to rejoin Spurs last summer. Pochettino’s family still live in London two years after his sacking by Spurs, including son Maurizio who plays for Watford’s academy.
“What another club is doing not my business and I am not going to make the mistake to talk,” Pochettino said in his pre-match press conference. “Things get misunderstood and out of context. Rumours, we live with that. We are focused and trying to give 100% for the club and players to help their performances,
“I am happy at PSG and so focused on trying to get the best result we possibly can against City,” Pochettino said on Monday ahead of the game. “But football is today. It is not tomorrow. The club need to plan, we need to plan, thinking about what is happening tomorrow. But it is all about the result.”
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3nRd50V
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