An Idrissa Gueye opener early into the match and Lionel Messi's first-ever Paris Saint-Germain goal after the break gave the French side a 2-0 victory in their Champions League group-stage match against Manchester City on Tuesday night.
2021/2022 UEFA Champions League
2-0
Match Report
The hosts got off to great start, as they managed to take the lead just eight minutes into the game through Gueye, who unleashed a thunderous effort inside the box which ended up in the back of the net.
Manchester City attempted to bounce back instantly, but they were unlucky to hit the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds as Raheem Sterling's header crashed against the crossbar before Bernardo Silva pounced on the rebound, but his effort from a yard or so came back out off the woodwork.
The Sky Blues piled the pressure on PSG after their wasted double chance, but Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a brilliant save to deny Ruben Dias, who tried to head home from a corner kick just before the break.
Pep Guardiola's men were in control of the game after the break too, but despite dominating possession, they struggled to find a final pass while PSG looked threatening on the counter-attack.
And then came Messi's moment. The former Barcelona captain found enough space outside City's box on the counter, played a one-two with Kylian Mbappe and then unleashed an effort from the edge of the area to send the ball into the top right corner of Ederson's goal.
That Messi goal took the wind out of City's sails, as they looked resigned to defeat. For PSG, this result is a real signal of intent against arguably England's best team.
PSG currently sit top of the table in Group A along with Club Brugge with four points each, followed by City with three points and RB Leipzig who have yet to grab a point.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' GOAL! PSG 1-0 Man City (Gueye)
13' Neymar's dribble failed.
19' Ed Sheeran watches this game on the stands
23' Yellow Card! Cancelo booked
25' Bernardo Silva's chance missed
32' Cancelo's shot denied
35' Neymar's shot flies high
38' Yellow Card! De Bruyne booked
43' Dias' header denied
54' CHANCE! De Bruyne's shot blocked
65' Neymar's shot hits the side nets
68' Subs! Foden replaces Grealish
73' GOAL! PSG 2-0 Man City (Messi)
86' Jesus goes down in the box but ref says no penalty!
Line-ups
PSG XI: Messi, Herrera, Verratti, Gueye, Neymar, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Mbappe, Donnarumma, Hakimi, Nuno Mendes
Subs: Wijnaldum, Navas, A. Letellier, Danilo Pereira, Kurzawa, Paredes, Draxler, Icardi, Kehrer, Diallo, Dagba, E. Ebimbe
Man City XI: Walker, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Sterling, Cancelo, Laporte, Ederson, Grealish, Ruben Dias, Bernardo, Rodri
Subs: Carson, Fernandinho, Ake, Stones, Z. Steffen, Jesus, Ferran Torres, Foden, J. Wilson-Esbrand, J. Mcatee