Champions League - Group A
Man CityManchester City2PSGParis Saint Germain1

Manchester City 2-1 Paris St-Germain: Raheem Sterling & Gabriel Jesus score to seal top spot

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Etihad Stadium
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling's goal was his third in as many Manchester City matches

Manchester City came back from behind to beat Paris St-Germain and secure qualification for the Champions League last 16 - doing so as Group A winners.

City's outstanding display reaped the reward it deserved, as they showed character as well as class after Kylian Mbappe swept PSG into a 50th-minute lead.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino, heavily linked with Manchester United following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking, was left disappointed as City hit back in style to turn the game around.

Raheem Sterling's recent good run continued as he turned home Kyle Walker's far post touch to equalise after 63 minutes. Then substitute Gabriel Jesus was the beneficiary of an exquisite lay-off from Bernardo Silva to beat PSG keeper Kaylor Navas from close range 13 minutes later.

PSG's superstar trio of Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar were a sporadic threat but City carried the greater danger and this was a well-merited victory, putting them into the last 16 before they travel to face RB Leipzig for their final Group A game, which will be played behind closed doors.

Man City overpower PSG

Bernardo, Cancelo and Jesus celebrates
City avenged September's 2-0 defeat by PSG

For all PSG's attacking riches, it was Manchester City who carried the more concerted threat - with the only concern initially that they could not cash in on their domination.

Pep Guardiola's side were on the front foot from the first whistle and it required Presnel Kimpembe's header to deny Rodri, before Achraf Hakimi diverted a shot from Riyad Mahrez over the top.

City almost paid the price when John Stones lost possession and Mbappe shot over but City were calm, measured and always looked a more organised unit than their illustrious opponents.

They were put to the test when Mbappe put PSG ahead against the run of play but City then struck the perfect balance between chasing the game and keeping the door locked at the back.

Sterling's resurgence continued with another goal and an energetic display while Jesus answered the regular questions about City not signing a striker with a predatory finish.

City then closed out the game with few alarms to ensure they will go into the draw for the knockout stage as group winners, always an advantage, and with the opportunity to rest players in that final group game behind closed doors in Leipzig with their Champions League job done.

It was the sort of performance City have been producing in the Champions League in recent seasons, as PSG discovered in last season's semi-final - now the task is to somehow find a way to make those successful steps through the next phase and fill that gap in their trophy cabinet.

Pochettino's bad night in Manchester

Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham beat Manchester City en route to the Champions League final in 2019

The spotlight has been fixed firmly on Pochettino since his arrival in Manchester for this Champions League tie, coinciding with him becoming the heavy favourite to be appointed as the next permanent Manchester United manager.

He negotiated the inevitable pre-match questions with aplomb but will have returned to Paris disappointed after an average display from his side.

They can boast that brilliant attacking trio - but this seems to come at the expense of PSG resembling a Pochettino side, one full of urgency, intensity and pressing.

Messi showed some of the old touches while Mbappe demonstrated his blistering pace and eye for goal but Neymar was disappointing, too easily shrugged off the ball and missing a great chance to restore PSG's lead.

PSG seem like a mix-and-match group, in this tournament at least, with Pochettino struggling to achieve unity of purpose.

No-one could ever write off a team with the world-class talent PSG possess but they need to show more. There is no doubt Manchester United will be watching with interest to see if Pochettino can really put his stamp on this team, where he has to balance the need to accommodate three magnificent players with the desire to play his trademark style.

PSG will be a danger to anyone once the knockout games get under way but they were second best here and no-one can begrudge City their win.

Player of the match

Bernardo SilvaBernardo Silva

with an average of 7.21

Manchester City

  1. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
    Average rating

    7.21

  2. Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
    Average rating

    7.03

  3. Squad number26Player nameMahrez
    Average rating

    6.99

  4. Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
    Average rating

    6.88

  5. Squad number7Player nameSterling
    Average rating

    6.79

  6. Squad number8Player nameGündogan
    Average rating

    6.75

  7. Squad number16Player nameRodri
    Average rating

    6.69

  8. Squad number2Player nameWalker
    Average rating

    6.67

  9. Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
    Average rating

    6.66

  10. Squad number5Player nameStones
    Average rating

    6.51

  11. Squad number31Player nameEderson
    Average rating

    6.26

  12. Squad number11Player nameZinchenko
    Average rating

    6.11

Paris Saint Germain

  1. Squad number30Player nameMessi
    Average rating

    6.40

  2. Squad number7Player nameMbappé
    Average rating

    6.32

  3. Squad number5Player nameMarquinhos
    Average rating

    5.93

  4. Squad number2Player nameHakimi
    Average rating

    5.87

  5. Squad number3Player nameKimpembe
    Average rating

    5.79

  6. Squad number1Player nameNavas
    Average rating

    5.73

  7. Squad number10Player nameNeymar
    Average rating

    5.56

  8. Squad number27Player nameGueye
    Average rating

    5.48

  9. Squad number25Player nameNuno Mendes
    Average rating

    5.47

  10. Squad number21Player nameHerrera
    Average rating

    5.44

  11. Squad number8Player nameParedes
    Average rating

    5.37

  12. Squad number15Player nameDanilo Pereira
    Average rating

    4.57

  13. Squad number11Player nameDi María
    Average rating

    4.56

  14. Squad number24Player nameKehrer
    Average rating

    4.53

Line-ups

Man City

Formation 4-3-3

  • 31Ederson
  • 2Walker
  • 5Stones
  • 3Rúben Dias
  • 27CanceloBooked at 80mins
  • 8Gündogan
  • 16RodriBooked at 55mins
  • 11ZinchenkoSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 54'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 26Mahrez
  • 20Bernardo Silva
  • 7Sterling

Substitutes

  • 6Aké
  • 9Gabriel Jesus
  • 13Steffen
  • 14Laporte
  • 25Fernandinho
  • 33Carson
  • 80Palmer
  • 87McAtee

PSG

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Navas
  • 2Hakimi
  • 5Marquinhos
  • 3Kimpembe
  • 25Nuno MendesSubstituted forKehrerat 67'minutes
  • 21HerreraSubstituted forDaniloat 61'minutes
  • 8Paredes
  • 27GueyeSubstituted forDi Maríaat 67'minutes
  • 30Messi
  • 7Mbappé
  • 10Neymar

Substitutes

  • 4Ramos
  • 6Verratti
  • 9Icardi
  • 11Di María
  • 15Danilo
  • 17Dagba
  • 18Wijnaldum
  • 22Diallo
  • 24Kehrer
  • 28Ebimbe
  • 40Franchi
  • 50G Donnarumma
Referee:
Daniele Orsato
Attendance:
52,030

Match Stats

Home TeamMan CityAway TeamPSG
Possession
Home54%
Away46%
Shots
Home16
Away7
Shots on Target
Home6
Away2
Corners
Home7
Away0
Fouls
Home13
Away5

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Manchester City 2, Paris Saint Germain 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Manchester City 2, Paris Saint Germain 1.

  3. Booking

    Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

  5. Post update

    Neymar (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).

  7. Post update

    Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint Germain).

  10. Post update

    Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint Germain).

  12. Booking

    João Cancelo (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  13. Post update

    Foul by João Cancelo (Manchester City).

  14. Post update

    Lionel Messi (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint Germain).

  17. Goal!

    Goal! Manchester City 2, Paris Saint Germain 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ángel Di María (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Lionel Messi.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Neymar (Paris Saint Germain) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ángel Di María.

  20. Post update

    Offside, Manchester City. Bernardo Silva tries a through ball, but Gabriel Jesus is caught offside.

How to follow Manchester City on the BBC bannerManchester City banner footer

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

838 comments

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City5401178912
2PSG52219728
3RB Leipzig5113131304
4Club Bruges5113516-114

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Liverpool55001551015
2FC Porto512238-55
3AC Milan511357-24
4Atl Madrid511347-34

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ajax55001631315
2Sporting530212849
3B Dortmund5203511-66
4Besiktas5005314-110

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Real Madrid5401123912
2Inter Milan531183510
3Sheriff Tiraspol5203610-46
4Shakhtar Donetsk5014111-101

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Bayern Munich55001931615
2Barcelona521226-47
3Benfica512259-45
4Dynamo Kyiv501419-81

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man Utd5311107310
2Villarreal52129727
3Atalanta5131101006
4Young Boys5113611-54

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lille52214318
2RB Salzburg52127617
3Sevilla51315416
4Wolfsburg512247-35

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea5401101912
2Juventus540196312
3Zenit St Petersburg51137704
4Malmö FF5014113-121
View full Champions League tables

Elsewhere on the BBC