Paris Saint-Germain staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Manchester City 4-2 in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Trailing by two goals in the second half, PSG rallied with four unanswered goals at the Parc des Princes, leaving the English club outside the playoff places and in danger of elimination.
After a goalless first half, Manchester City seemed to seize control with substitute Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scoring in the 50th and 53rd minutes, respectively. Grealish fired in the rebound from Bernardo Silva's shot, and Haaland doubled the lead with a close-range finish following a deflected cross.
The home side, undeterred by the deficit and spurred on by their passionate fans braving torrential rain, launched a relentless attack. Ousmane Dembélé sparked the comeback in the 56th minute, sweeping home a cross from Bradley Barcola. Just four minutes later, Barcola himself leveled the score, tucking in the rebound after Désiré Doué's powerful shot struck the crossbar.
PSG continued to dominate, pressing Manchester City deep into their own half. In the 78th minute, Joao Neves headed in at the back post after the visitors failed to clear Vitinha's free kick. Gonçalo Ramos sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal, capping off an extraordinary turnaround.
The victory propelled PSG to 22nd place in the standings, while Manchester City, champions of the 2023 UEFA Champions League, dropped to 25th, one spot below the playoff qualification threshold. City now faces a crucial match against Belgian side Brugge on January 29, where they must secure a win to keep their hopes alive.
PSG's win sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the league phase as they prepare to travel to Stuttgart for their final game. The top eight teams will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th will compete in two-legged knockout playoffs for the remaining spots.
Despite having a goal by Achraf Hakimi disallowed for offside just before halftime, PSG displayed resilience and determination. Their victory highlights the unpredictable nature of football and the thrilling competition in this season's UEFA Champions League.
Reference(s):
PSG surge back to shock Manchester City in UEFA Champions League
cgtn.com
