After trailing 0-2, the Parisians finally won against the Skyblues and climbed into the Top 24 before the last day of C1.
From tears to laughter. Under pouring rain, PSG put its fans through all the emotions on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes. Trailing 0-2 in three minutes after returning from the locker room, Luis Enrique’s players defeated Manchester City (4-2). Madly. A deserved success, a class success. And which allows Paris to enter the Top 24 in the ranking, that is to say in the qualifying places for the play-offs. The capital club will have its destiny at its feet next Wednesday, in Stuttgart, during the eighth and final day. City slips to 25th position.
Paris has the ball, but…
The Rouge et Bleu attacked this match from the right end, even monopolizing the ball 64% of the time in the first half. Control, few opportunities. Small shot from a closed angle from Doué (5th), another more powerful one from Hakimi (17th). City dominated… but dangerous on the counter, with Donnarumma well placed on a missile from De Bruyne (13th) and very happy to see Haaland not pressing his head (21st). Lacking projection and percussion, PSG continued to dominate at a slow trot. Unlike Doué, who took 1000 years to decide on the corner of the box, Vitinha struck without asking any questions (24th). Corner, on which Ruiz saw his shot blocked on the line (25th). Always this domination, always sterile. Mendes won a heated duel in front of Haaland (29th) and Donnarumma thwarted Savinho’s plans (40th). And the deliverance, Mendes in retreat, delivery from Barcola and Hakimi as a finisher (45th). Yes, but Mendes was offside. False joy… Illusion of domination for nothing (0-0 MT).
Three minutes in hell
The most attentive had seen Dembélé, victim of a bad flu last week, warming up in the last minutes. It was launched from the restart. Hope. The man in shape is him. Except that it was another entrant at the break who would shine, Grealish, as a gravedigger after a billiard shot (0-1, 50th). Cold snap. And bamboo blow. Neves offered, despite himself, by countering a cross, a caviar to Haaland (0-2, 53rd). Efficiency goes both ways… Paris showered in three minutes. The great efforts of the first period, gone with two kicks.
-The Dembélé glow, “Bambi” eats lion, Neves rewarded
And hope. A glow symbolized by “Dembouz”, ideally found by Bambi Barcola, finally incisive on a climb to the left (1-2, 56th). Bambi who had fangs. Suddenly hungry like a wolf. The body language had changed. And success, the one that eluded him for many weeks, all the way to Espaly and Lens. Gifted for a candy from the corner of the box, full bar. Who will take over and slide the ball to the bottom? Barcola (2-2, 60th). Paris was second. This time, Luis Enrique’s players were biting. This time they hurt. And City folded (65th, 66th). In the meantime, Luis Enrique had sent Zaire-Emery and Ramos into play (61st). Dembélé looked in good shape: leg passes, small bridge over Bernando, acceleration… and “minasse” of the families… on the bar (70th). Paris had the keys to the truck against this suffering, cornered City. But not the key to the fields. Not yet. Vitinha’s free kick from right to left, the ball flying to the far post for Neves, in the back (3-2, 79th). Stunning.
All that remained was to finish the job. Dembélé thought to kill the suspense… before the referee refused his goal due to offside (81st). He did it again with a vicious strike at the near post, Ederson vigilant (83rd). A little thrill all the same in the stands of the Park, with Gundogan from afar (85th). The chills were felt by the Citizens, with Ederson stopping in front of Ramos (90th). The Park in jubilation, awaiting deliverance, the three whistles. No need. In the duel with Hakimi, Gvardiol put Ramos back into play, he shot Ederson (4-2, 90+3). The Var took many minutes to validate. Impressive PSG, who will have the cards in their hands in Stuttgart (4-2 final score).
