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Dazzling Dembele inspires incredible comeback

Rachel08 mins


Manchester City’s Champions League hopes were hanging in the balance tonight after succumbing to an incredible comeback from Paris Saint-Germain.

Having conceded goals to Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland at the start of the second half, things looked bleak for a PSG side who started the night outside the play-offs in the revamped table.

But substitute Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola inspired a stirring response with both men on target before Joao Neves hit a final third to send Parc des Princes wild. There was still time for Goncalo Ramos to add a fourth to rub salt into City’s wound.

The win moved PSG up to 22nd and it is City who are now in danger of losing out. Pep Guardiola’s men are 25th, two points clear of Stuttgart with their final game against Club Brugge next week now a must-win.

PSG start brightly

Perhaps sensing the gravity of their situation, PSG started well, Anderson saving from Desiree Douy inside five minutes before Neves headed over the bar from close range.

Gianluigi Donnarumma saved from Kevin De Bruyne at the other end but it was a rare foray for City, who played largely at the back and it was up to defender Josko Gvardiol to keep the scoreline after 26 minutes.

The visitors failed to clear the corner and, from the ensuing melee, Fabian Ruiz fired in a shot that required Croatia defender Guardiol to kneel the ball to safety off his goal line.

Although they were largely playing on the break, it almost paid off for the English champions when Phil Foden put Savinho through on goal, albeit from a narrow angle, but the Brazilian’s shot was well blocked by Donnarumma.

Having survived that scare, PSG almost took the lead a minute before half-time. Achraf Hakimi was on the end of a free-flowing move, slotting well past Ederson, only to have the goal disallowed after Nuno Mendes was adjudged to be marginally offside in the build-up.

Grealish is making an impact

Guardiola dropped Grealish and Rico Lewis for Ruben Diaz and Savinho at the break and the double switch paid immediate dividends.

Manuel Akanji burst down the right and picked out a cross for Bernardo Silva and, although the Portuguese’s effort was saved by Donnarumma, the ball fell to Grealish and he fired high into the net.

The City fans had barely stopped celebrating in the Paris rain when Haaland made it 2-0 three minutes later with Grealish again involved.

Having latched on to Matheus Nunes’ pass, the England winger cut in from the left and his cross was cleared by Vitinha into Haaland’s path and he made no mistake from close range.

The return begins

PSG’s Champions League dream quickly vanished, but they showed immense courage to find a way back.

Dembele, who was also brought on at the break, pulled one back, latching on to Barkola’s cross to shoot with Ederson and it was 2-2 on the hour, Doue’s shot hitting the post into the path of Barkola and he deflected a . volley into the net via the left post.

PSG were in complete command with City looking shell-shocked.

Barkola curled an acrobatic effort over the bar, Dembele hit high and wide when he should have done better before the former Barcelona winger smashed a shot onto the post with Ederson beaten.

Neves finds a third

It seemed only a matter of time before the pressure told and PSG got the goal they deserved with 12 minutes remaining, Neves diving a header at the far post with no City defender nearby.

The excellent Dembele had another goal ruled out for offside and then drew a fine save from Ederson as PSG went for the ball.

Substitute Ramos saw an effort saved by Anderson from close range, but the Brazil international could do nothing when another Ramos effort was awarded with the last kick of the game following a lengthy VAR review.



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