PSG's Stunning Comeback Shocks Manchester City in Champions League Clash

Paris St Germain staged a remarkable comeback from two goals down to defeat Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday, leaving the English club in danger of elimination and outside the playoff positions.
After City took an early 2-0 lead in a thrilling second half, goals from PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola, Joao Neves, and Goncalo Ramos turned the match around.

"Our team's faith is unshakeable," PSG manager Luis Enrique stated. "My players never give up until the final whistle, and we've shown this time and again."

City's Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland found the net in the 50th and 53rd minutes, respectively, but the home crowd at Parc des Princes, undeterred by heavy rain, witnessed an extraordinary revival.

Dembele scored in the 56th minute, connecting with a cross from Barcola. Just four minutes later, Barcola equalized by converting the rebound after Desire Doue's powerful shot hit the crossbar.

PSG dominated possession and took the lead in the 78th minute when Neves scored with a header after City struggled to clear a free kick from Vitinha.

Ramos sealed the victory with a well-placed shot from just inside the 18-yard box, following a lengthy VAR review for offside.

“To defend a lead, you need to keep the ball. We didn’t do that,” a disappointed Pep Guardiola told TNT Sports after the match.

PSG moved up to 22nd in the standings, while City, who lifted the Champions League trophy in 2023 but have only won two of their seven group matches, fell to 25th, just outside the playoff spots.


CITY'S MUST-WIN FINALE
"We accept the defeat because the better team won. We have one last chance to qualify at home against Club Brugge," Guardiola noted.

City's loss sets the stage for a tense finale as they prepare to host Belgian side Brugge on January 29. The top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16, while those finishing ninth to 24th will compete in two-legged knockout playoffs for their spot.
"It could happen. We will see," Guardiola said regarding City's potential early exit. "If we don't win against Brugge, we don't deserve to advance."

PSG was the more dominant side throughout the match and had a goal by Achraf Hakimi disallowed for offside just before halftime.

City appeared to be on the rise when Grealish scored from Bernardo Silva's rebound, and Haaland doubled the lead with a close-range effort after a deflected cross from Grealish.

However, PSG quickly turned the tables on the English champions, who previously squandered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord to draw 3-3 in November. The French side will face VfB Stuttgart in their final league phase match.
Grealish expressed his frustration over City's performance.

"I don’t know; usually, we’re so good in these moments," the midfielder said. "It’s happened too often this season... we haven’t been able to control the game. It’s strange because in every other season, we’ve been so effective in managing these situations."