Trailing 2-0, the Parisians produced a high-flying second half to sign a benchmark match and put themselves back in the race for the play-offs.
So often nailed to the cross by opposing “comebacks”, Paris signed an anthology, Wednesday evening at the Parc des Princes, to dominate Manchester City (4-2) and stay alive in this Champions League before the last daytime. With 10 points heading into Stuttgart next week, Paris is not out of the woods yet but has taken a big step forward to avoid an infamous first round elimination. Above all, he delivered a benchmark match which could influence the rest of his season.
The prestige of the match but also the immense stakes, between two extremely wealthy and ambitious clubs on the verge of elimination, could be seen everywhere at the Parc des Princes. During the first 45 minutes, City ceded possession of the ball like rarely (60% for PSG) and suffered wave after wave: strike from the restless Désiré Doué (4th), header from Joao Neves (10th), until Hakimi’s goal refused by the VAR for a piece of knee too far forward at the start of the action (45th).
Dembélé changes everything
It was then feared that the chronic inefficiency of PSG would lose it. Especially when Manchester scored twice on the restart against the run of play by Jack Grealish (50th) then Erling Haaland (53rd), in ambush at the far post.
But Luis Enrique’s men had the merit of immediately reducing the score, with a wild run from Bradley Barcola who centered full of composure for Démbélé (56th), spared in the first half and entered after the restart. PSG once again thought they were cursed when Doué hit the bar but Barcola recovered perfectly to find the small net (60th). The evening began to exude a legendary scent, with an ecstatic audience.
-Neves strong head!
Dembélé almost scored an anthology goal by linking a small bridge on Bernardo Silva and struck forcefully from a tight angle, pushed back by the crossbar (70th). Manchester City was on the verge of a knockout. The salvation came from an off-center free kick taken by Vitinha and it was Joao Neves, in the oven and in the mill since the start of the match, who came out of his box to score with a header ( 78th).
Despite an unusual defender for attacker change (Hernandez for Barcola), coming from Luis Enrique, PSG continued to dominate the match and Mancunian excursions towards the Parisian area were rare.
Served by Dembélé, Ramos failed to make the break (90th), blocked by Ederson. And as if to finish chasing its demons, Paris managed to defend a dangerous corner, with a beautiful fist-raised exit from Donnarumma.
In the following action, Gonçalo Ramos, who entered the game, took advantage of a defensive blunder by the Citizens to complete the Parisian masterpiece with a shot into the top corner (90th + 3). Liberation!
