PSG v Man City LIVE: Result and reaction as hosts roar back to claim crucial Champions League win
Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 Manchester City: The hosts secured a vital three points as they fight for Champions League qualification
Manchester City suffered a critical blow to their hopes of progressing to the Champions League knockout rounds as Paris Saint-Germain roared back to win a crazy contest at a raucous Parc des Princes.
After a goalless first half, the game exploded into life with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland seemingly setting the visitors on course for a vital three points. But a Bradley Barcola-inspired PSG had other ideas, equalising quickly before surging to victory to resuscitate their hopes of securing a play-off spot.
PSG leapfrog their opponents with the win. While it wasn’t quite winner takes all with both facing weaker opposition next week, Manchester City are drinking at the last chance saloon with just Club Brugge to come amid an extend wretched run that threatens to end their European adventure prematurely. What next for Pep Guardiola’s side?
Re-live all of the Champions League action from the Parc des Princes in our live blog below:
PSG 0-0 Manchester City, 5 minutes
A rasping drive from Desire Doue stings the palms of Ederson. Lively from the teenage forward.
The corner comes to nothing.
PSG 0-0 Manchester City, 3 minutes
Baffling. Up come the big blokes, but Manchester City play it short and are forced all the way back to goalkeeper Ederson.
Mateo Kovacic then gives the ball away in his own final third, and Ederson has to gather a dangerous cross soon after. Sloppy.
PSG 0-0 Manchester City, 2 minutes
Matheus Nunes is providing plenty of width on the right, more up in midfield than his nominal role in the back four when in possession before reverting deeper when PSG win the ball.
Mateo Kovacic drives forward and Kevin De Bruyne earns a corner.
PSG 0-0 Manchester City, 1 minute
Phil Foden tries to put some footwork on Nuno Mendes but fails to make any headway, the left back handling the Manchester City man well.
KICK OFF!
A peep of the whistle and off we go in Paris.
PSG vs Manchester City
Out the players come into the Paris night, the rain tumbling down. The Champions League anthem gets a few boos from every corner of the stadium, these two Middle Eastern-owned clubs united on certain issues. More of a roar as it comes to an crescendo.
PSG vs Manchester City
The Parc des Princes looks spectacular as the lights go out and the flames fly, creating a big match feel perhaps not befitting this pair’s currently lowly competition status. Who will take a big step towards the knockout rounds tonight?
PSG vs Manchester City
It's 24th against 26th in the battle of the underachievers at a rather damp Parc des Princes. PSG and Manchester City are also two of the big January spenders, albeit when their new signings cannot play until the knockout stages, which one may not reach. PSG are in more danger and a draw may be a good result for City. But Matheus Nunes is used as a makeshift right-back again, pitting him against Bradley Barcola. PSG may like the sound of that.
Luis Enrique plays down pressure of fixture
Luis Enrique played down the pressure ahead of his Paris St Germain side's potentially pivotal Champions League clash with Manchester City tonight.
Defeat would leave either side in serious danger of missing out on the knockout stages but Enrique has refused to label the contest 'must-win'.
The PSG manager said: "Why would there be pressure? This team never gives up and fights until the last minute.
"The reality is we should have won the games against PSV (Eindhoven) and Atletico (Madrid). With those (extra) five points we would already be qualifying for the next round.
"But I am very optimistic and confident. Is it a must-win game? The obligation is all the players give 100 per cent, and I take the same attitude every day.
"You can lose games, and that's life. The most important thing is to be committed."
Guardiola: 'Our families are really, really close'
Both City and PSG have struggled in the Champions League this season, with PSG 25th on seven points. Guardiola had kind words for PSG coach Luis Enrique, who is his friend.
"I want from the deepest of my heart a horrible performance from PSG tomorrow, so we can beat them, but it will be 95 minutes and afterwards the relation (with Luis Enrique) will return to how it always has been," he said.
"Our families are really, really close. There are friendships that will be eternal, forever. I love them, I think they love us. We have an incredible connection... We are happy when we can see each other."