Manchester, November 25 (BNA): Gabriel Jesus scored the winning goal in the 76th minute to lead Manchester City to a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to replace them in the Champions League playoffs as Group A champions.
PSG also advanced to the last 16 thanks to RB Leipzig’s win over Club Brugge, but the loss highlighted their continuing problems with finding an effective way to harness their star-studded attack.
In the opening 45 minutes, City dominated the game with their usual inventiveness and dynamism while the Paris Saint-Germain trio of forward Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe frequently watched them from afar.
The important question remains whether PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino can build a team capable of winning the Champions League when his side is so volatile and with his three top strikers reluctant to act again and help the ball. Reports
City has no such issues with Pep Guardiola’s well-trained machine that combines technique and class with a high work ethic.
Iklay Gundogan hit the post in the 32nd minute and Riyad Mahrez came close twice, while the most goals for Paris before the first half was a separation that ended with Mbappe’s shot over the crossbar.
But four minutes after the end of the first half, Paris Saint-Germain grabbed the lead, and Mbappe hit the ball at the back post after Messi’s cross pass deviated from Kyle Walker in the path of the French striker.
City equalized when Raheem Sterling stabbed into the net after Rodri’s superb ball was sent by Walker to a low cross.
great opportunity
Neymar had a great opportunity to restore his side’s lead when he crossed the penalty area but looked confused when he fired his shot off Ederson’s right post.
City have always looked the most likely to win the match, with Mahrez and Bernardo Silva asking questions and Gundogan taking charge in midfield in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne due to Covid-19.
It was Mahrez who created the winning goal, sending a ball to Silva in the far corner and the Portuguese midfielder showing a deft touch to land the ball to Jesus who chose his place.
City leads Group A with 12 points, with Paris Saint-Germain with eight and Leipzig and Brugge, both with four points, to compete for third place and a place in the European League.
Guardiola praised the way his team responded to a goal delay.
“It’s a good lesson,” said the former Barcelona coach. “When you lose you have to keep going. We knew that a draw was a good result for us, but we won.”
“I always believe in their attackers, the further away from our goal, the safer they are. Look at Neymar’s work when he missed the shot. They found it out of nothing. We have to defend as a team. I thought we were great today.”
Pochettino expressed his happiness that his team reached the round of 16.
“The important thing is to qualify,” he said. “We beat City in Parc des Princes, and we lost here. The difference is a draw against Leipzig and (for this) we finished second.”
“After 0-0 in the first half we scored and I think we were calm because we were in control of it well. You have to give credit to Manchester City, they are a very good team.”