Jesus upstages ‘three kings’ to crown City’s bold comeback
We came to marvel at whether the brilliant individuality of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar would prevail, but again left praising the beautiful synchronicity of Manchester City’s football.
The “three kings” of Paris St-germain had their moments – Mbappe scored and somehow Neymar failed to – but it is City who won their Champions League group for the fifth consecutive season. With RB Leipzig hammering Club Brugge – it was all over by half-time – in the other group game, this was about who would finish first, as both clubs were through to the last 16 in any case, and at one stage it looked like Mauricio Pochettino would be leading PSG to achieving just that and claiming a famous double over Pep Guardiola.
Whether Pochettino is still the PSG head coach when the knockout phases start in February remains to be seen given his eagerness to return to Manchester, albeit in charge of United, although the likelihood is he will have to wait until the end of the season. That is if United ultimately want him – although surely this (win, lose or draw) was not some kind of job audition? PSG looked like a disjointed side who, at times, rely more on individual talent while City have that but also the kind of glorious combinations that the very best football teams can achieve.
However, there was an individual moment worthy of recognition in City’s performance with Raheem Sterling, the scorer of the equaliser, claiming his 23rd goal in the Champions League which draws him level with Frank Lampard’s total and means that only two Englishmen – Paul Scholes (24) and Wayne Rooney (30) – have scored more. And both of them have retired while Sterling is still just 26.
Logically, he will comfortably beat Rooney’s record, although whether he does so at City remains to be seen given he has appeared on the periphery at times this season and probably only warrants his place because Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were ruled out. Even so, it is also three goals in three games for Sterling and that is a fine response.
City will wonder how they fell behind after a first half in which they were only denied by some superb, last-ditch defending from PSG and some wayward finishing as they went after the French giants as if to make a statement.
They hogged the ball, they pushed PSG back and dominated possession and almost took an early lead when Rodri met a free-kick only for his header to be cleared off the line by Presnel Kimpembe. Still the ball dropped to Riyad Mahrez who, from a tight angle, forced a
starfish save from Keylor Navas at his near post.
In response, PSG tried to go toeto-toe, but it was tough. As wave after wave of City attacks hit them, their captain Marquinhos finally snapped and implored Messi, Neymar and Mbappe to track back rather than watch the eight other players try to stem the tide. Messi obliged but, still, there was another desperate clearance with Achraf Hakimi heading Mahrez’s shot over.
The third important block came from Marquinhos as he diverted Oleksandr Zinchenko’s goalbound snap-shot as City’s interplay, with Bernardo Silva outstanding as a false nine, proved irrepressible. Mahrez found a way through, only for Navas to make a sprawling save to thwart
City. But this is PSG. Yes, they are far from perfect, but they can score against anyone. They served warning when John Stones dithered on halfway, trying to bring the ball under control, only for Neymar to steal it away and release Mbappe. Instead of taking it in his stride and going for goal, he waited and tried to arc a shot beyond Ederson, clearing the crossbar.
The warning went unheeded. Into the second half and Mbappe was unerring.
Messi made it. He started the move and as the pace quickened there was a one-two with Ander Herrera and a fine dummy by Neymar with Messi suddenly in the City area. Alarm bells rang and he cut the ball back, with it flicking off Kyle Walker and running to Mbappe, who steadied himself and drove his shot low between Ederson’s legs. The feted triumvirate, open to criticism until that point, had emphatically shown the difference they can make and PSG were in front.
The response from City was to their immense credit. It showed why they, and not PSG, are stronger candidates to win the Champions League. They drew level with Rodri sumptuously picking out Walker with a floated pass over the PSG defence and he acrobatically volleyed the ball back across goal. Substitute Gabriel Jesus challenged, it fell to Sterling and he stabbed it home at full-stretch off the post.
And yet PSG should have restored their lead. Once more Messi was involved, but it was Neymar who made the chance and should have converted, but somehow side-footed wide. He looked on in disbelief.
It proved costly. City countered with Mahrez crossing deep, beyond the far post where Bernardo smartly cushioned the ball into the path of Jesus, who steered it beyond Navas. City were, finally and deservedly, in front and they gleefully celebrated.
Manchester City (4-3-3) Ederson 6; Walker 7, Stones 6, Dias 7, Cancelo 7; Gundogan 7, Rodri 7, Zinchenko 5 (Jesus 54); Mahrez 7, Bernardo 9, Sterling 7. Subs Steffen (g), Carson (g), Ake, Laporte, Fernandinho, Palmer, Mcatee. Booked Rodri, Cancelo, Jesus
Paris St-germain (4-3-3) Navas 7; Hakimi 6, Marquinhos 8, Kimpembe 7, Mendes 6 (Kehrer 67); Gueye 6 (Di Maria 67), Herrera 6 (Danilo 61), Paredes 7; Messi 7, Mbappe 7, Neymar 6. Subs Franchi (g), Donnarumma (g), Ramos, Verratti, Icardi, Dagba, Wijnaldum, Diallo, Dina Ebimbe.
Referee Daniele Orsato (Italy).