FUNCTIONALITY | Three things learned as PSG prevail against Manchester City in UEFA Champions League thriller

Paris Saint-Germain traveled to Manchester City as the first team to play at the Etihad Stadium since the Premier League club was found guilty of 114 charges relating to financial violations. PSG ensured to compile misery by winning 4-2 against the Manchester team thanks to a compelling first half.

A game of two halves

The Parisians have been criticized this season for their lackluster start to the season as reigning and reigning French and European champions. With the capital club looking up rather than down in the league, more was expected for the start of the new season given the investment in Luis Enrique’s squad. Although PSG’s results reached a milestone with 4 wins out of 4, facing the Premier League leaders was the first firm test of the season for the Ligue 1 champions.

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PSG couldn’t have dreamed of a better start to the match. Three quick goals in the first half put the Parisian club in a strong position heading into the break. The forward line wreaked havoc on City’s defense with Doué starring with the opening goal before two minutes later he set up his international teammate in Ousmane Dembélé on 15 minutes.

A three-goal deficit presented an almost unassailable position for the Citizens, with a home side’s comeback from three goals behind in the Champions League at the break having only been canceled out once since 1993. However, with three half-time changes, City were rejuvenated. The inclusion of the talented Bouaddi in the middle of the park gave the Manchester club a platform to build on with his pressure from the wide area with constant deliveries into the box Haaland reduced the deficit.

Akliouche restored PSG’s 3-goal lead with a fortuitous goal from a Donnarumma error, but the hosts continued to look for a way back and pushed – finding the post, the crossbar and seeing Gvardiol’s effort cleared off the line before Haaland scored his second of the evening, which only proved to be a consolation. The Parisians showed steel to repel the English club but were dominated in the second half. In the end, the 4-2 flattered the French club after a shaky defense in the second half.

Dazzlingly gifted

The Rennes academy product is no stranger to producing big performances on the biggest stages after being named man of the match in a UEFA Champions League final, and that trend continued against Manchester City. Playing a fluid role in attack, the France international was unleashed in the first 45 minutes. Doué brought the game to life with some fine feet before an even better finish from distance to give PSG the lead.

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After opening the score, the Frenchman didn’t stop there. Found by Dembélé in space at the far post, he volleyed an inverted ball towards the near post, executing a delightful one-two, with the Ballon d’Or winner crowning the ball with a header to double PSG’s lead in the opening 15 minutes. In addition to his goal-creating exploits, the 21-year-old showed he has a ton of tricks to work with, unleashing superb skills, tricks and shots to evade his marker and force his way out of tight spaces.

Champagne football

With two of Europe’s biggest teams meeting in the championship stage of the continent’s premier knockout competition, neutrals couldn’t have asked for a better match to feast on. The first 45 minutes featured PSG’s best performance of the season so far. The Parisians started the season slowly and people wondered if they were capable of reaching the same levels that saw them win this competition less than 6 months ago, and they answered that question emphatically with a sparkling display. The front line made it impossible to contain the city’s defense with constant, fluid movement and exchange of positions to create space. Luis Enrique’s side also dominated the midfield battle with an extra body in the middle of the park.

Given the gray cloud of 114 charges currently hanging over the Etihad Stadium, many would have expected PSG to pile on even more misery and continue to score in the second half. PSG scored after the break, but that doesn’t reflect their performance in the second half. Manchester City dominated the second half from start to finish and found their way back into the match with two goals from Erling Haaland. However, this was not enough to come back from an almost insurmountable position. Although it was a losing cause, the Premier League turned what looked like a one-sided defeat into a UEFA Champions League classic. The match had it all: 41 attempts, goalkeeper errors, missed penalties and outstanding players – some might have called it “champagne football”.

This feature is a repost of Receive French football news and can be found HERE

GFN | Liam Wraith