PARIS - Paris Saint-Germain staged a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to beat Manchester City 4-2 to reignite hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, but Guardiola's side face a humiliating exit.
It looked like Manchester City would win comfortably in Paris when Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scored two goals within three minutes at the start of the second half, but the home side scored through Ousmane Dembélé and Bullard within seven minutes. Leigh Bakla equalized.
With City at a disadvantage and struggling to cope with PSG's spirit and desire, Luis Enrique's side then won the game at the Parc des Princes with goals from Joao Neves and Gonzalo Ramos. It was a famous night at the stadium. PSG need at least an away draw with Stuttgart next week to qualify, while Manchester City must beat Club Brugge at the Etihad Stadium to have any hope of reaching the knockout stage play-offs. -- Mark Ogden
It was another night in Europe that PSG fans will never forget. In recent Champions League history, the Parisians have often been in reverse situations. It was them who were heartbroken after taking the lead and then squandering their chances, but not this time.
The game may not have been decisive - as neither team was likely to be eliminated on Wednesday - but it was still vital, with PSG showing their character, talent and personality. This team may no longer have superstars and world-class stars like Neymar and Lionel Messi, but they display greatness at heart with talent and energy. Even though their players are young, they also have belief.
Trailing 2-0 after the break, they could have collapsed, but they didn't. Their comeback could be a turning point in this European campaign, but they must finish in Stuttgart next week to advance. -- Julian Lawrence
For those who thought City's recent mini-resurgence of four wins in five games had ended a pre-Christmas slump of nine defeats in 12 games, think again.
Guardiola's side repeated their mistakes in Paris, blowing their lead away due to complacency and an inability to match their opponents' effort and desire. This is the ninth time this season that City have relinquished winning position and failed to win the game. That's why they are in such trouble in the Champions League right now.
There were a lot of questions going into the game against PSG. City lacked any leadership when defender Ruben Dias was taken off at half-time after picking up a yellow card and were close to picking up a second yellow card, which would have reduced the team to 10 men. But they also can't match PSG's energy. Midfield.
On the wing, Savinho was unknown before being replaced by Jack Grealish at half-time, and although the England winger scored and scored within eight minutes of coming on, he did little else. Rico Lewis struggled at left guard and Matheus Nunes was out of his depth at right guard. However, despite all the problems, City should be able to close out the game with a 2-0 lead.
This means the crisis is back, with City proving once again that their team is nowhere near as good as it was two years ago. -- Ogden
Guardiola and Luis Enrique have been close friends for 30 years. They are the same age, played together at Barcelona, coached together and by sharing similar values, methods and principles they ended up becoming two of the best coaches in the world at the same time.
Of course, they have different personalities and styles of football, but when they faced each other tonight we got what we expected: a very tactical first half, tight lines, tight blocking, good pressing and counter-attacking oppression.
But between two attacking teams and talented forwards, there was no way this game could remain 0-0 after the break. But that's not the case.
Both sides made mistakes and were taken advantage of. The home side scored when City were gifted two goals by two deflections from the Paris defence. They put pressure on City's defense and in the second half, you scored 6 goals, 23 shots (18 for PSG, 5 for Manchester City), 9 shots on target, and a total of more than 3 goals.
After one of the best tactical halves of the season, the game turned into one of the most exciting halves of the season. -- Lawrence
Haaland may have thought he had won the game for City when he fired in the far post to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.
When a striker scores the decisive goal in a game, he has the right to feel like he did a good job and bask in the plaudits, but when the game slips away from his team and they end up losing the game, Haaland needs to ask if he has done enough to make a difference.
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But the reality in Paris is that he doesn't. Haaland did nothing but score goals. Under the careful training of Marquinhos, he looks nothing like a player who has just signed the longest contract in football and signed a new 10-year contract. Haaland is undoubtedly a ruthless goalscorer, but when he's not scoring, he contributes nothing.
Other great forwards have contributed more to the team and allowed others to play, but for now, Haaland is just a goalscorer. Surely that won’t be enough for City to succeed in the coming years? -- Ogden
Bradley Bakla had scored just once in 16 Champions League games in his career before Wednesday, and if there's one game he needs to step up to improve on that number, it's against Manchester City.
The adage "big games belong to the big players" makes sense to him. In a must-win game in Paris, they need Bakela to be special. He has the talent, but Europe's top competition has shown his limitations so far. But his stunning goal and assist in the second half was a game that could change everything. The former Lyon winger and PSG's top scorer in all competitions this season has shown all his talent and potential.
"He's had a great season so far," Luis Enrique said of his player at the weekend. Things got better Wednesday night. -- Lawrence
City are now fighting to avoid Champions League relegation and must beat Club Brugge next week to advance to the knockout rounds.
Their 4-2 defeat in Paris saw the 2023 Champions League winners fall below the threshold for a top 24 team and risk an early exit from the competition if they fail to beat the Belgian side at the Etihad. It wasn't long ago that games like this would have been a mere formality, but while City will be favorites to win, Brugge need just one point to seal promotion.
Coach Nicky Hayne has overachieved with his side this season, leading them to wins over Aston Villa and Sporting Lisbon and a draw against Juventus on Tuesday.
All three teams have beaten Manchester City this season, so City should be warned. -- Ogden