PSG vs. Manchester City: Score, Reaction from 2016 Champions League, Leg 1
A determined performance from Manchester City saw them secure a creditable 2-2 draw against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's saved penalty and equalising goal, following an appalling error from Fernando, sandwiched Kevin De Bruyne’s opener for the Premier League outfit in a chaotic first 45 minutes. In the 59th minute Adrien Rabiot put the hosts in front, although the visitors hit back with a scrambled strike from Fernandinho 18 minutes from time.
Both of these teams, despite their riches, have underperformed in the Champions League in recent seasons. And the tone for a pulsating contest was set immediately, as PSG centre-back David Luiz received a caution after just 12 seconds, a card that rules him out of the second leg.
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The visitors settled down well in the early stages, but the first big moment came with City on the back foot as Edinson Cavani scythed through midfield, playing Blaise Matuidi.
The onrushing midfielder was then bundled over by Eliaquim Mangala in the penalty area when through on goal. Despite protests from the PSG players and fans, the match official resisted the urge to point to the spot and show what would have been an inevitable red card.
Football journalist Jonathan Johnson wasn’t convinced it was a foul on the Frenchman, although it was certainly a close call:
PSG didn’t have to wait long before they had a chance from 12 yards, though, and it was the rampaging Luiz involved, as he was felled in the box by Bacary Sagna.
The City players were far from happy with the decision, and as Ibrahimovic stepped up confidently, they look resigned to going a goal down. But Hart, recalled to the starting XI after his recent injury issues, plunged to his right to keep the strike out. Here’s a look at the stop, via BT Sport Football:
As OptaJohan noted after the incident, the England international has been in brilliant penalty-saving form in the Champions League this season:
The let-off didn’t shock City into life either, and when Nicolas Otamendi lost the ball, Ibrahimovic had the chance to charge through on goal. But once again, the veteran forward fluffed his lines, failing to test 'keeper Joe Hart at all this time with a misguided curler.
It was profligacy that would prove costly for the Parisians, as City pounced to score a fine goal on the break. Fernando nicked the ball on the halfway line, prodding it into the path of Fernandinho. He then powered forward with gumption and prodding a fine pass into De Bruyne's path.
From there the Belgium international, as he so often does, put his foot through the ball with power, giving Kevin Trapp no chance and City a vital away goal. As noted by Sport Witness, while it was an incisive counter, the defence from the hosts wasn’t great:
From there, the order of the day for City should have been simple: Get through to half-time, kill time and go again in the second period with a goal advantage. Instead, they tossed their advantage away just three minutes later in comical circumstances.
Hart played a short pass into Fernando from a goal kick, and even though the midfielder stopped to take his time with Ibrahimovic closing in, incredibly, he played the ball square into the PSG man’s path. The striker was able to get a toe on the shot and divert into the empty net with Hart stranded.
Fingers pointed at Fernando, but Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC didn't think he was the only man to blame for the equaliser, suggesting Hart could have offered more direction:
The leveller was the last flashpoint of a frantic opening period in which teams will have lamented their defensive deficiencies.
PSG’s chances in the tie suffered another blow, as Matuidi, like Luiz, picked up a booking that will rule him out of the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. And while the game remained stretched, the opening exchanges were indicative of two sides who had been reminded of their defensive responsibilities by the managers.
The cracks in City's setup materialised first, though. Cavani's header from Angel Di Maria's corner wasn't pushed away from danger by Hart, and Rabiot, who had a brief stint with City's academy, was fastest to react, finishing calmly into an unguarded net.
As Squawka Football noted, the young midfielder is one of PSG's most frequent goalscorers in the competition, having netted in the previous round against Chelsea too:
The Parc des Princes had suddenly come alive, and their team responded in kind. Ibrahimovic came perilously close to making it 3-1, as his looped header crashed of the crossbar with Hart stranded. City were clinging on as the dark blue shirts smothered them.
The Premier League side did ride the storm out, though, and gradually began to reassert themselves against a brittle PSG back line. And as soon as there was a sustained spell of pressure, they were back level after some shocking defensive play from the hosts.
PSG defenders could have cleared Sagna’s cross twice in the 72nd. Instead it fell to Fernandinho in the area, and his scuffed shot made its way into the corner via a Thiago Silva deflection, sending the pocket of visiting supporters wild. Here's a look at the goal, via Live Footy Video:
While the game was an absorbing one, Tom Williams of Agence France-Presse lamented the standard of defending from these two sides:
After levelling things up, it was City who looked the biggest threat in the latter stages, as they counter-attacked with intelligence against a home side who were looking increasingly jaded. Neither team were able to nudge in front, though, with the referee calling time on a breathless 90 minutes.
The French champions will be disappointed with some of their defending here, especially the second goal that allowed the Premier League team back into this one. But manager Laurent Blanc has a lot of quality at his disposal, and his side's well capable of going to any stadium in European football and winning.
City will lament the lapse after going in front, but two away goals at such a tough venue will delight the travelling fans, as it's a return that makes them favourites in the tie. At the Etihad Stadium next week they will also be desperate to get stuck into a PSG side that’ll be missing key men like Matuidi and Luiz.
Ultimately, the defensive frailties from both sides in this contest showed why they have each struggled to go deep in competition down the years. Unless they’re eradicated beyond this stage, regardless of who qualifies, they'll come up short in their quest to lift this iconic piece of silverware.
Post-Match Reaction
Sergio Aguero posted the following on his Twitter feed following the game:
Hart praised the spirit of the City players after this display, suggesting they're close to something special. "It was a crazy game that we were fully involved in," he said, per BBC Sport. "...We are making history for this club and we don't want it to end. I am proud of the back four tonight."
His manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted there is still a lot of work for his players to do in the tie. "The quarter-final continues to be open, we must now play 90 minutes in Manchester but this is a good result for us," said the Chilean, per BBC Sport. "We made a couple of important mistakes for the first goal and the second goal was offside."
