Messi Seals PSG’s Victory Against Manchester City With Stunner
Lionel Messi’s stunning first Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) goal sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory against Manchester City in the Group stage of the UEFA Champions League at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France.
PSG started with a formidable front three of Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, while Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez returned as Manchester City made two changes from the Premier League win at Chelsea.
Idrissa Gueye had given PSG an eighth-minute lead when Mbappe’s cutback from the flank saw Neymar blunder a shot from 12 yards. However, the ball fell to Gueye, who produced a clinical finish to open the scoring for the hosts.
Manchester City almost equalised through Sterling and Bernado Silva, but both their chances hit the goal posts. PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a brilliant save moments later when he kept out Kevin De Bruyne’s effort.
De Bruyne was fortunate to see yellow and not red for a dangerous challenge on Gueye before Donnarumma, who was making his Champions League debut, continued to impress with an excellent save to prevent Ruben Dias’ header from finding the net on the stroke of half-time.
In the second half, City created chances through Sterling and De Bruyne, but they couldn’t convert. Messi then produced a moment of magic to extend PSG’s lead. After a solo run through midfield, Messi played a one-two with Mbappe on the edge of the area and then fired a stunner into the top corner of the City net.
The Argentine’s first goal for PSG sent the home supporters into a frenzy. City searched for lifeline as the continued to press for a goal, however, Donnarumma and his defence stood firm as Pochettino’s men held out for a 2-0 victory against the English champions.
PSG’s first Champions League victory of the season moves them top of Group A, while City drops to third behind Club Brugge.
“It was a good performance, we did everything, but we couldn’t score,” Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said after the match.
“We defended well, they defended deep and, with the quality they have, they were always dangerous on the counterattack,” Guardiola added.
“We controlled them and unfortunately, we could not score. Nothing more to say other than my biggest compliments to the team. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. In this kind of game the [clinical] moments are important, of course.”
PSG travel to Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday, while Manchester City head to Liverpool on Sunday.
UEFA Champions League results
PSG 2-0 Manchester City
RB Leipzig 1-2 Club Brugge
AC Milan 1-2 Atletico Madrid
FC Porto 1-5 Liverpool
Ajax 2-0 Besiktas
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sporting CP
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-0 Inter Milan
Real Madrid 1-2 FC Sheriff
Chidi Nwoke/UEFA.
