Desire Doue’s low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 13th minute set the tone for Paris Saint-Germain’s dominant 4-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The Champions League holders stormed into a three-goal lead by half-time, silencing the home crowd and leaving City’s first match since their Premier League financial breach verdict in turmoil.
Two minutes after Doue’s opener, he crossed perfectly for Ousmane Dembele to head home PSG’s second. The Etihad defence struggled to contain the visitors’ attacking threat. Vitinha added a third in the 32nd minute, finishing clinically after a slick move involving Maghnes Akliouche and Warren Zaire-Emery.
Pep Guardiola watched from the stands as Enzo Maresca’s side faced a humiliating first half. The City manager made three substitutions at the break, bringing on Matheus Nunes, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Iliman Ndiaye. The changes sparked a different City, who pressed forward more aggressively.
Eight minutes after the restart, Haaland flicked in a header from Ndiaye’s cross to pull a goal back. The Norwegian striker, tireless throughout, then doubled his tally but was denied a third by PSG keeper Matvei Safonov’s remarkable save.
City’s hopes of a comeback were crushed in the 62nd minute when Donnarumma, who had a difficult night, initially saved Akliouche’s shot but allowed the rebound to slip behind him for PSG’s fourth. The Italian goalkeeper also saved a late penalty from Ferran Torres but the damage was done.
City’s defence was exposed repeatedly. Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, and Josko Gvardiol all struggled to deal with PSG’s fluid attack. Guehi lost Dembele for the second goal and Dias was taken off at half-time after a poor showing. Khusanov, a surprise selection at right-back, found himself switched to centre-back as the game slipped away.
In midfield, Enzo Fernandez failed to assert control and missed a headed chance, while Elliot Anderson was frequently outpaced. Rayan Cherki had little opportunity to influence the game and was substituted at half-time along with Jeremy Doku, whose surging runs failed to break PSG’s grip on the game.
PSG’s midfielders, led by Akliouche and Zaire-Emery, dictated the tempo. Warren Zaire-Emery’s involvement in the third goal exemplified the visitors’ cohesion.
Haaland’s two goals stood out for City, but his efforts could not reverse the early damage. The striker’s flicked header was City’s first real breakthrough. His second was nearly followed by a third, only for Safonov to deny him.
Donarummma’s performance was mixed. He made some vital saves including the penalty stop but was slow to react on PSG’s first goal and misjudged the rebound that led to the fourth. His distribution was also poor as City’s backline struggled to organise.
The match was a stark reminder of PSG’s attacking power and City’s defensive vulnerabilities. It also cast a shadow over City’s home fixtures, coming as it did in the wake of their financial breach ruling.
PSG’s clinical finishing and midfield control left Manchester City chasing shadows for much of the first half. The hosts improved after the break but could not overcome the three-goal deficit. The Etihad crowd’s defiance was not enough against a PSG side that rarely gave City a moment’s peace.
Maresca will need to rethink his defensive setup and midfield strategy after a performance that exposed several weaknesses. The substitutions at half-time made a difference, but early mistakes proved costly.
The victory confirmed PSG’s status as Champions League holders and sent a message that they remain a formidable force in Europe’s elite competition.
According to Joy Online.
