Paris Saint-Germain Beat Manchester City 4-2 at the Etihad in Six-Goal Thriller

Paris Saint-Germain beat Manchester City 4-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, ending City's six-match winning run in a six-goal Champions League thriller. The holders were three goals up by half-time, and although City roared back in the second half, Paris held on — and even missed a late penalty — to take the points on matchday two.

The first half belonged to the visitors. Desire Doue opened the scoring after thirteen minutes with a disguised finish into the far corner, and Ousmane Dembele headed in a second just two minutes later. When Vitinha fired in a third just after the half-hour, City were three-nil down at home and facing a heavy defeat.

City were transformed after the break. Enzo Maresca made changes at half-time, and Erling Haaland pulled one back eight minutes after the restart — a goal that made him Manchester City's all-time leading scorer in the competition. Maghnes Akliouche restored the three-goal cushion just after the hour, but Haaland scored again with fifteen minutes to play, City twice hit the woodwork, and the Etihad believed a famous comeback was on.

It was not to be. Paris defended their lead through a frantic finish and had the chance to add a fifth from the penalty spot, only for Ferran Torres to see his effort saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. The defeat was City's first of the season, watched from the stands by Pep Guardiola, at the Etihad for the first time since leaving the club in the summer.

For Paris, back-to-back European champions, it was another statement result — four goals away to the form team in England. For City, one defeat in the league phase is no disaster, but a first half that slipped away so completely will give Maresca plenty to think about before matchday three.

From the October 14 episode of The Football Briefing Room.