Manchester City 2 PSG 4: City player ratings as City’s Champions League campaign hangs by a thread | OneFootball

Manchester City 2 (Jack Grealish 50′, Erling Haaland 53′)

PSG 4 (Ousmane Dembele 56′, Bobby Barcola 60′, Joao Neves 78′, Goncalo Ramos 91′)

Here are the City player ratings as Manchester City’s Champions League campaign was left hanging by a thread after their 4-2 defeat to PSG at the Parc des Princes. With Jeremy Doku out with an injury, Savinho came into the starting lineup, as did Bernardo Silva for Ilkay Gundogan.

The game was an open affair, and come the final whistle, it was clear to see that Pep Guardiola’s side could not play that way as it exposed their defensive frailties and lack of legs all over the pitch. To say Manchester City threw away a 2-goal lead would be doing PSG a disservice and the weaknesses in Pep Guardiola’s squad were clear to see come the final whistle. The City player ratings do highlight the fact that it was an overall poor performance from Pep Guardiola’s side against a younger, quicker opponent.

First half

The game kicked off in pouring rain, and there was a lively tempo to the game’s opening stages. The first chance of the game came in the 5th minute with a rasping shot from Desire Doue well saved by Ederson at his near post. But already PSG’s pace looked like it could cause Manchester City headaches.

Manchester City’s first chance of the game came in the 13th minute. A long ball and a knockdown from Erling Haaland fell to Kevin De Bruyne who saw his shot from the left-hand hand side of PSG’s penalty area well saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Some neat interplay between Matheus Nunes and Phil Foden created a chance for Erling Haaland in the 20th minute but his header was straight at Donnarumma. A minute before that Achraf Hakimi hit a stinging drive straight at Ederson.

In the 27th minute, a Fabian Ruiz shot was cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol. A corner hit Ruben Dias and fell in Ruiz’s path, but fortunately for City, Gvardiol was on hand to save the day for Manchester City with Ederson well beaten.

Manchester City’s best chance of the first half came in the 39th minute. A well-worked move saw Phil Foden play in Savinho, but his shot was well saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

On the stroke of halftime, it appeared that PSG had taken the lead through Achraf Hakimi. But the goal was disallowed by VAR for Nuno Mendes being offside in the build-up. Also, in a memo to the Premier League, implement the automated offside system, which was on display here in the Champions League. The decision was made quickly and the game moved on. It really isn’t that hard.

The game went into halftime nil-all with PSG having the better chances but Manchester City also having their moments.

Second half

In the 50th minute, Manchester City would take the lead. A driving run down the right wing from Manuel Akanji created a chance for Bernardo Silva. His shot was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and it fell kindly to Jack Grealish, who fired home to give Pep Guardiola’s side the lead.

Three minutes later Manchester City would double their lead. A driving run from Matheus Nunes played in Jack Grealish in acres of space on the left wing. His deflected cross fell into Erling Haaland’s path and he tapped in to make it 2-nil.

PSG would pull a goal back in the 56th minute. A driving run from Bobby Barcola teed up Ousmane Dembele to fire home to make it 2-1. PSG’s pace had been a threat all night and it was on full display here. Matheus Nunes was well beaten by Barcola to begin the move.

Four minutes later PSG would draw level. A shot from Desire Doue hit the crossbar and fell into the path of Bobby Barcola. The ball hit the winger and went in via the post to make it 2-all. It was game on once again, and City would need to dig deep to beat PSG, who now had their tails up. Mateo Kovacic gave the ball away in midfield to create the opening from which PSG prospered.

In the 70th minute, a superb piece of play by Ousmane Dembele saw him hit the crossbar from a tight angle. It was sublime play from Dembele and it appeared to be a matter of time before PSG took the lead.

PSG would take the lead in the 78th minute. A header from Joao Neves at the back post from a free kick gave PSG the lead. City’s defence switched off and they paid a heavy price.

The hosts would put the game to bed in stoppage time. Goncalo Ramos scored after a deflection from Josko Gvardiol fell into his path. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood, and that was the last moment of the match.

Summary

The City player ratings reflect Manchester City’s performance, which was poor, and PSG fully deserved their victory. The hosts were too quick and Manchester City’s age and lack of legs stood out over the course of the 90 minutes. This isn’t a new issue, and it was the difference between the two teams outside of Ousmane Dembele and Bobby Barcola’s dazzling second-half performances.

City player ratings

Ederson-6/10: He wasn’t poor but he wasn’t at his best either.

Matheus Nunes-6/10: Given a torrid time defensively but he did help create City’s second goal. He tried hard but he isn’t a right-back.

Manuel Akanji-6/10: It was Akanji’s run that created City’s opening goal. But defensively he struggled like many of his teammates.

Ruben Dias-6/10: Taken off at halftime after he picked up an early yellow card. Hopefully, that is why he came off at halftime and it’s not a fresh injury concern.

Josko Gvardiol-5/10: Gvardiol wasn’t at his best as he played at left-back and centre-back on the night.

Mateo Kovacic-6/10: He had some nice touches at times, but he lacked the legs to keep up with PSG’s athleticism and pace.

Kevin De Bruyne-6.5/10: De Bruyne worked hard and had his moments. He definitely wasn’t Manchester City’s worst player on the pitch.

Bernardo Silva-4/10: Bernardo looked old and slow and he couldn’t keep up with the PSG midfield. He did try hard but it wasn’t his night.

Savinho-5.5/10: Had one shot saved in the first half but didn’t get into the game as he would’ve liked besides that.

Phil Foden-6/10: Not his best night. There were flashes from Foden but he couldn’t get into the game he would’ve liked.

Erling Haaland-6.5/10: Scored a goal and toiled away all night but was starved of quality service.

Substitutes

Jack Grealish-7/10: Scored one and set up another after coming on at halftime. He drifted out of the game after that, but that wasn’t his fault, as City fell to a PSG siege after going 2-nil up.

Rico Lewis- 4/10: He was given a torrid time by Ousmane Dembele after coming on at halftime at left-back.

Ilkay Gundogan-5/10: Almost scored a late equaliser but wasn’t sighted besides that.

James McAtee-5/10: Came on in the second half alongside Ilkay Gundogan and, like Gundogan, couldn’t get into the game.

John Stones-N/A: Not on long enough to mark.