At the Parc des Princes
To discover
Champions League fixtures and results
Champions League standings
A success that counts twice.
In a gala poster between two of the contenders for the final victory in the Champions League, PSG disposed of Manchester City on Tuesday (2-0), at the Parc des Princes, on behalf of the second day of the group stage.
Gana Gueye and Lionel Messi have scored.
Three points which allow Paris (4 pts) to take the lead of group A, ahead of Bruges (4 pts), City (3) and Leipzig (0).
Parisians like grown-ups
As often, the Parisians attacked the match from the right end, just technically, generous in the effort. Enough to hold out against Pep Guardiola's men. On a center back from Mbappé, Neymar was hole, not Gueye (1-0, 8th). Logical advantage, even if the opportunities did not rain on the Mancunian goal. The trend would be reversed. If they hadn't hit until the 26th minute, the Skyblues were more than close to scoring, with Sterling and Bernardo Silva finding the bar in quick succession. The England international was unhappy on this beautiful head at six meters and the former Monegasque, he could blame himself: he was only one meter from the line. A miracle for PSG, which suffered more and more, Donnarumma having the opportunity to shine (32nd,42nd). Errors too, with for example Kimpembe who was slow to clear (29th). Finally finding space, Mbappé was still close to offering the goal of the break to Herrera then Marquinhos (38th). This first period ended with 1-0 and… 11 against 11, even if De Bruyne could (should?) Receive a red card for a sole on Gueye (39th).
Read alsoPSG-City: Messi's magnificent first goal with Paris (video)
City left with the same intentions but stumbled on the Parisian block, solid and united. And on Donnarumma (54th). Spaces, the Parisian arrows had in the back of a defense more and more distant from its bases. Mbappé and company did not manage to take advantage of it, however. Not yet. The danger was approaching with this cons roundly led and a boulevard which opened in front of Neymar, who found the small net (65th). And it was Messi who was in charge of spicing up the addition, after a magnificent one-two with Mbappé at the entrance to the area (2-0, 74th). Already boiling, the Parc des Princes ignited even more ... Great evening atmosphere at the Porte de Saint-Cloud, for a great evening performance. Donnarumma was in tune with his attackers,stopping the attempt of the Parisian executioner in the semi-finals, last season, Mahrez (79th). The sign that nothing could happen to Mauricio Pochettino's players, who pocketed the three points against their most serious rival in Group A (2-0 final score).
Paris, successful test
They have "
not always been convincing in the game
" in the last matches, as Abdou Diallo noted after Montpellier, but the Parisians were able to raise their level and responded on Tuesday evening. Faced with another European cador, champion of England and finalist of the last C1, they pulled out all the stops. Of course, not everything was perfect. PSG have nevertheless shown that they can play as a team. Including facing what is best in Europe in terms of play and a collective "
in advance
", as Pochettino noted before the game. “
Anything can happen in a football match
,” he added. Well seen… Return match on November 24th.
Messi and Donnarumma, first
If he scored his first Parisian goal on Tuesday, Messi now has a record of 121 achievements in the Champions League.
Monument… Donnarumma, he may achieve this status.
In the meantime, the young (22 years old) European champion was taking his first steps in the Champions League.
And what a start ... Seven stops, a center captured and three punches for the former Milanese, reassuring in his cages.
What about the performance of the indefatigable Gueye, in the oven and in the mill.
Indispensable, quite simply, like the ghost Verratti, in another style of course.
Marquinhos, he regained his authority on Tuesday evening, while he only missed one goal for the performances of Neymar and Mbappé, in legs, to be even more beautiful.