Man City beaten by PSG in thriller as Guardiola returns to Etihad
Manchester City were beaten 4-2 by a majestic Paris Saint-Germain as Pep Guardiola watched on from the stands in an enthralling Champions League encounter.
Key points
- Manchester City lost 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad in the Champions League.
- PSG scored three first-half goals through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.
- Erling Haaland scored twice for City, but Gianluigi Donnarumma's error gave PSG a fourth.
Manchester City were beaten 4-2 by Paris Saint-Germain in an enthralling Champions League encounter at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola watched from the stands as the reigning back-to-back European champions faced Luis Enrique's side.
PSG produced a breathtaking first half, scoring three times. Desire Doue scored from range, Ousmane Dembele finished a wonderful team move 99 seconds later, and Vitinha added a thumping finish from Warren Zaire-Emery's instinctive flick.
City fightback falls short
After the interval, Erling Haaland scored twice as City fought back, doing to PSG what had been done to them in the first period. City hit the woodwork twice more in an increasingly frantic and transitional half.
Despite wave after wave of attack and big chances missed, Gianluigi Donnarumma's poor handling gifted Maghnes Akliouche and the visitors a fourth. Donnarumma atoned by denying Ferran Torres' woeful penalty attempt late on.
If you don't go toe-to-toe, you struggle
— Enzo Maresca
Maresca sees progress
City boss Enzo Maresca said: "It was a strange game. Two goals in two minutes created some problems for us. We were dead in the game, and then second half we created so many chances. Second half, we were good."
Maresca added: "These kind of teams, if you don't go toe-to-toe you struggle. We had to be more brave. Second half, we were." He also said: "My feeling is that we are close."
