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Lionel Messi scores first goal for PSG who beat wasteful Manchester City in Paris

September 28, 2021 by Paul Chan

Paris St Germain 2, Manchester City 0 (UEFA Champions League)

Lionel Messi and Idrissa Gana Gueye scored the goals that saw Paris St Germain beat wasteful Manchester City at home.

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PSG took the lead with an unlikely goalscorer after Idrissa Gana Gueye rifled a loose ball into the roof of the net after 8 minutes when City failed to clear.

City hit the bar twice and did enough to score at least once but the front three on the night misfired and the Blues could easily have been down to ten men when Kevin de Bruyne clumsily fouled goalscorer Gueye.

The home side defended in numbers and were indebted to saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma who prevented City – who had 18 shots on goal on the night, 7 on target – from getting on the scoresheet.

And just as the game started to tail off, with City running out of ideas, Messi popped up with his first goal for PSG with 16 minutes to go to really spoil City’s night in Paris and give notice to the rest of Europe about their Champions League intentions this season.

Paris St Germain nullify Man City attacking threat with saves by Gianluigi Donnarumma

City boss Pep Guardiola made just two changes from the side that brushed past Chelsea at the weekend with one eye on Liverpool at the weekend.

Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus stepped down to the bench as Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez came into the side.

Lionel Messi came into the side after being passed fit as PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino selected the feared forward trident of Neymar, Mbappe, and Messi.

Like Thomas Tuchel at the weekend Pochettino selected a hard working midfield behind his front men in ex-United midfielder Ander Herrera, Marco Verratti, and ex-Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye.

There were four changes in all with Gianluigi Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Verratti, and Messi coming into the side.

Both teams took a knee ahead of the kick off and both sides attacked well until the Parisians overloaded the right flank with Achraf Hakimi driving up and Messi coming inside to link up with Mbappe.

Mbappe crossed from the right and the ball came off Neymar who failed to connect but fell nicely for Gueye who found the roof of the net from nine yards out for his first Champions League goal in 24 games. 

Mahrez, who was excellent against the French in both semi final games last season, tried to lift the ball into the danger zone but the 6’5” Donnarumma finger tipped it away from two waiting City players.

The game was absorbing as it swept from side to side with both teams taking it in turns to defend and attack.

De Bruyne’s curling cross into the area deserved an excellent finish but Sterling’s header and then Silva’s follow-up hit the crossbar with French defenders stunned and Donnarumma flapping as the ball refused to go in from two yards out after 26 minutes.

Mahrez saw his shot saved by the giant Italian as City pressed hard and Herrera kicked a loose ball away before Sterling could react.

Donnarumma held onto a fierce 20 yard low drive by Joao Cancelo and a closer effort by De Bruyne as City racked up chances.

Herrera’s long range shot was tipped over as PSG counter attack, and Marquinhos missed out on a tap in when Mbappe pulled the ball back too far in front of him.

Goalscorer Gueye had to go off after a rough challenge by De Bruyne – the Belgian escaped a possible red card after the referee saw fit to only book him for his ill timed challenge.

Ruben Dias headed straight at Donnarumma from De Bruyne’s corner as City continued to generate danger from their set pieces while Hakimi headed another cross away.

Sterling beat the offside trap but shot wide in the second half while Marquinhos blocked a De Bruyne ball as City started second half well.

Mistakes were starting to creep into the home side and Donnarumma spilled a De Bruyne ball into the area but Sterling could not react fast enough.

Lionel Messi scores his first goal for Paris St Germain against his old Barcelona boss, Pep Guardiola

But they presented a danger on the break with Neymar being put through by Hakimi but Kyle Walker matched him for pace and put him off enough for the Brazilian to shoot into the side netting after 65 minutes.

Donnarumma saved again from De Bruyne and the Italian saved from Cancelo who was trying to pick out De Bruyne.

Phil Foden came on for Grealish after the England man, who had no change all night from the referee, had the ball nicked off him by Verratti.

Foden had some tricks and an extra turn of pace on the left, putting in a couple of quicker crosses to keep the French busy.

De Bruyne whistled another shot wide from range but with 74 minutes gone up popped Messi who found a burst of pace to come inside from the right channel.

His 121st goal in the Champions League – and first for PSG – came after a 1-2 with Mbappe and he stroked a perfect left foot finish past Ederson.

It was his 27th goal in Europe against English opposition and deflated City.

Marco Verratti was removed for Gini Wijnaldum while Gabriel Jesus replaced Sterling as both sides made late changes.

Mahrez’ late shot was saved by Donnarumma, as was a last minute free kick by the Algerian, who sent an injury time effort over the bar as City drew a blank.

GOALS – Paris St Germain 2, Manchester City 0 (UEFA Champions League)

PSG 1, Man City 0: 8. Idrissa Gana Gueye fired the ball into the roof of the net after Paris St Germain flooded forward and the ball came off Neymar but fell nicely for the French holding midfielder who rifled it into the top corner from 9 yards out.

PSG 2, Man City 0: 74. Lionel Messi exchanged passes with Kylian Mbappe after finding a late turn of pace to to create space and curled a shot past Ederson to score his first goal for Paris St Germain.

MATCH STATS – Paris St Germain 2, Manchester City 0 (UEFA Champions League)

Paris St Germain: Donnarumma, Hakimi, Maquinhos (C), Kimpembe, Mendes, Herrera, Gueye (Danilo 90), Verratti (Wijnaldum 78), Messi, Mbappe, Neymar

Paris St Germain subs not used: Navas, Paredes, Icardi, Dagba, Kurzawa, Diallo, Draxler, Kehrer, Ebimbe, Letellier

Booking: Verratti 77 (foul on Raheem Sterling)

Goals: Gueye 8; Messi 74

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias (C), Laporte, Cancelo, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Grealish (Foden 68), Sterling (Jesus 78)

Man City subs not used: Steffen, Carson, Stones, Ake, Torres, Fernandinho, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand

Bookings: Cancelo 23 (foul on Kylian Mbappe); De Bruyne 39 (foul on Idrissa Gana Gueye)

Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande

Filed Under: Manchester City, Match Report, UEFA Champions League Tagged With: Bernardo Silva, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi, Paris St Germain, Raheem Sterling

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