Men's football•
Safonov, Hakimi, Marquinhos (c), Pacho, Mendes, Zaïre-Emery (Beraldo 84'), Vitinha, Ruiz (Hernandez 84'), Akliouche (Neves 76'), Doué (Kvaratskhelia 66'), Dembélé (Ferran 76').
A month after their 6-1 triumph at home to Slovan Bratislava to start to the competition, Les Rouge et Bleus were back in Champions League action with a dangerous away trip to Manchester City. The Premier League leaders tried to put the Parisians under pressure from the outset, but they could never have imagined how the first quarter of an hour would unfold. In typical style, illustrating the footballing principles that underpin their game, Paris responded with a passage play worthy of being shown in every football academy around the world as Désiré Doué provided the finish to a sumptuous move (0–1, 13’)!
A gem of a goal that was quickly followed by another when, two minutes later, Doué combined this time with Ousmane Dembélé, who headed home as a deathly silence engulfed the City of Manchester Stadium - were it not for the 3,000 strong travelling support (0–2, 15'). Simply sensational! And it wasn't finished. With half an hour on the clock, Achraf Hakimi came very close to punishing the Sky Blues, who were saved by the post (31'). It was only a brief stay of execution as Vitinha delivered the knockout blow just moments later, capitalising on a superb backheel from Warren Zaïre-Emery (0–3, 32')!
A spellbound 60,000-odd spectators in the Mancunians’ home ground watched on as Manchester City, who had no choice but to fight back, pulled a goal back through an Erling Haaland header (1–3, 53’). If it was a glimmer of hope, it was short-lived, as Paris struck again through Maghnes Akliouche (1–4, 62')! The minutes ticked by, and the intensity of the contest remained unchanged.
Haaland netted a second (2–4, 75th minute), as the Sky Blues through everything into the final minutes of the battle. After a last-ditch goal-line clearance by Nuno Mendes, it was Matvey Safonov’s turn to shine on his line, denying the Norwegian centre-forward a hat-trick (83'). At the end of an epic clash, it was Paris Saint-Germain who secured a victory that will be remembered for a long time to come - their first at the City of Manchester Stadium!
Player of the Match, Vitinha celebrates the third goal!
