Paris Saint-Germain secured a crucial three points in the league phase on Wednesday night as they astonishingly came from 2-0 down to defeat Manchester City 4-2 in a Champions League classic at the Parc des Princes, with all six goals coming in the second half.
The result means PSG climb into the qualification places in 22nd with 10 points, meaning a point against Stuttgart could be enough to qualify, while Man City drop to 25th, leaving them requiring a win against Club Brugge to qualify for the next round.
While it was clear both teams were entering the game in need of victory, few would have anticipated the attacking intensity of the first half, with each having glorious goalscoring opportunities - particularly the hosts - including Fabian Ruiz's shot being cleared off the line and Achraf Hakimi's disallowed goal just before half time due to an offside call against Nuno Mendes.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, the game exploded into life in the opening stages of the second half, as Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland put Man City ahead with two goals in three minutes, only for PSG to respond with two goals of their own in the following eight minutes from Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, marking an absolutely astonishing period in the match.
The action showed no signs of slowing down as the game progressed towards its end, with PSG stamping their authority as Dembele rattled the crossbar before Joao Neves completed the turnaround with a superb diving header, and just minutes later, Dembele thought he had added a fourth, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside.
PSG finally did add their fourth in the final seconds of the match when the ball fell kindly for Goncalo Ramos to finish past Ederson, and after a lengthy VAR check eventually awarded the goal, the referee blew his final whistle to bring an end to a Champions League classic at the Parc des Princes.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
What a remarkable performance from Paris Saint-Germain, a presentation that they are truly a changed team compared to the days of their superstar signings not making an effort to defend and press with the team.
The entire team showed immense intensity to press Man City all over the pitch, and they were certainly worthy winners as they dominated the Citizens from start to finish.
Luis Enrique will be delighted with the manner in which they responded to going 2-0 behind, scoring four second half goals to secure one of the best Champions League nights in their history.
As for Man City, just as it appeared as though they were recovering from their miserable run, Pep Guardiola's side show they are still far from at their best as they throw away a two-goal lead to leave the Citizens on the verge of a shock league phase elimination.
Every aspect of their performance was so far from what we have become accustomed to when watching Man City, with PSG dominating the ball and rarely allowing City to break out from their half - a quality that Guardiola's men have often possessed themselves in the past years.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN VS. MANCHESTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS
Jack Grealish goal vs. Paris Saint-Germain (50th min, Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Manchester City)
Jack Grealish fires Man City ahead just minutes after coming onto the pitch 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
It's his first goal in the Champions League this season 💪
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Grealish has thumped Man City into the lead, he has only been on the pitch for a matter of minutes!
Manuel Akanji drives past his marker on the right side and gets to the byline, where he pulls back a cross to Bernardo Silva in the six-yard box, but his flicked shot is wonderfully saved.
The ball ricochets multiple times before landing perfectly at Grealish's feet, and the midfielder unleashes a stunning volley into the top-left corner, giving Man City a vital lead.
Erling Haaland goal vs. Paris Saint-Germain (53rd min, Paris Saint-Germain 0-2 Manchester City)
That didn't take long!
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Erling Haaland doubles Man City's advantage over PSG just 3️⃣ minutes after they took the lead 🔥
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Haaland has doubled Man City's lead!
Matheus Nunes charges through the middle of the park and releases Grealish down the left side, where the winger stands up his man and looks to cut the ball back to Nunes inside the box.
Neves attempts to intercept, but the ball horribly bounces off the midfielder and lands at Haaland's feet at the back post, with the striker easily tapping in Man City's second.
Ousmane Dembele goal vs. Manchester City (56th min, Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Manchester City)
Ousmane Dembele gets one back for PSG 👀
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
Three goals have been scored in the last six minutes between the two sides 🤯
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Dembele pulls one back just like that, sensational from Barcola!
Barcola picks up the ball on the left side, skillfully puts it through his marker's legs, and races towards the Man City box, where the winger pulls it back to Dembele.
The forward has stopped his run inside the box in anticipation of the pass, and Dembele makes no mistakes with his finish as he sweeps in PSG's first.
Bradley Barcola goal vs. Manchester City (61st min, Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 Manchester City)
PSG come back from 2-0 down to draw the game level at 2-2 in just 8 minutes 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
Bradley Barcola with the finish against Man City 💥
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What is happening at the Parc des Princes, Barcola has equalised!
Desire Doue has the ball just outside the area and looks to curl one into the top right corner, but his shot strikes off the bar and falls kindly to Barcola inside the box.
Barcola slightly scuffs his shot, and it bounces towards the far post, where it rebounds kindly off the upright and into the back of the net, unbelievably making it 2-2.
Joao Neves goal vs. Manchester City (78th min, Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 Manchester City)
PSG COME BACK AGAINST MAN CITY 🤯
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
After going 2-0 down, Joao Neves fires home to give PSG the lead 🤩
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Neves has completed the turnaround, what a header from the midfielder!
Vitinha delivers a curling and dangerous delivery into the box from a free-kick, and the cross manages to evade the entirety of the Man City defence and find Neves at the back post.
The midfielder dives to meet the ball and finds the near corner with his header, beating Ederson and putting PSG 3-2 ahead after being 2-0 down.
Goncalo Ramos goal vs. Manchester City (96th min, Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 Manchester City)
After a lengthy VAR check, PSG extend their lead to 4-2 in the final kick of the match 👏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
Man City are now 25th in the Champions League, one position outside of the Round of 16 playoff spots 👀
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Ramos adds a fourth in the final minutes!
A loose kick from Ederson is intercepted in the middle of the park, with the ball headed forward as PSG look to finish the game off in the closing seconds of the game.
The ball falls for Ramos with the striker through on goal, and the striker brilliantly finishes, with a lengthy VAR check eventually awarding the goal after the ball came off of Josko Gvardiol.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JOAO NEVES
© Iconsport
Several PSG players could have been awarded the man of the match award after that incredible performance, but Neves was the pick of the bunch tonight.
The midfielder scored PSG's third of the game to complete their remarkable comeback after initially going 2-0 behind to Man City, but his all-round play was the real highlight of his performance.
Neves made 55 passes as he helped control the midfield, including two key passes, while also showing his attacking and defensive qualities with four shots and seven tackles.
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN VS. MANCHESTER CITY MATCH STATS
Possession: Paris Saint-Germain 63%-37% Manchester City
Shots: Paris Saint-Germain 26-9 Manchester City
Shots on target: Paris Saint-Germain 9-6 Manchester City
Corners: Paris Saint-Germain 11-6 Manchester City
Fouls: Paris Saint-Germain 10-10 Manchester City
BEST STATS
-2 - Paris won their first game after trailing by 2 goals in the Champions League. It was their first win despite being two goals down in all competitions since May 2012 against Valenciennes in Ligue 1 (0-2 then 4-3). Resilience. pic.twitter.com/DcoMG6d9Gx
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) January 22, 2025
115 - Tonight was the first time in the last 115 occasions that Man City have lost a game in all competitions where they led by 2+ goals. Shock. pic.twitter.com/fwadG7iQoh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2025
9 - Tonight was the ninth time that Manchester City have failed to win a game in which they were ahead in all competitions this season - the most of any Premier League club in 2024-25. Uncharacteristic. pic.twitter.com/PjW6HkL5dO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 22, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
PSG's attention will briefly return to domestic action as they host Reims in Ligue 1 on Saturday night, before returning to European football with an away trip to face Stuttgart on Wednesday.
As for Man City, they will host Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday before taking on Club Brugge on Wednesday, with Champions League qualification on the line for the Citizens.
Ellis Stevens
