Barcola and Dembele Dazzle as PSG Stage Thrilling Comeback to Beat Manchester City 4-2

23 Jan 2025 ScoreWaves Staff view

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On a night of drama, skill, and sheer unpredictability at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain orchestrated a stunning comeback to defeat Manchester City 4-2 in one of the most thrilling Champions League fixtures of the season. The match saw PSG overturn a two-goal deficit with a breathtaking second-half performance that left City shell-shocked.

First-Half Stalemate with a Twist

The game began with City unusually on the back foot, struggling to impose their typical possession-dominant style. PSG, buoyed by a lively home crowd, created the better chances, testing Ederson with a series of long-range efforts. ust before the halftime whistle, Achraf Hakimi thought he had given PSG the lead with a brilliant strike. However, the celebrations were cut short as the linesman’s flag went up for offside after a VAR review. Despite their dominance, PSG went into the break frustrated and goalless.

City Surge Ahead in Three Frenzied Minutes

Pep Guardiola made an inspired halftime substitution, bringing on Jack Grealish, and the Englishman wasted no time making an impact. Just five minutes into the second half, chaos in the PSG penalty area ended with Grealish rifling a fierce volley into the net to break the deadlock. Three minutes later, a mix of luck and opportunism saw Grealish’s deflected pass land perfectly for Erling Haaland, who calmly slotted home City’s second goal. The Norwegian striker’s clinical finish silenced the crowd, and it seemed City were poised to control the game.

Barcola and Dembele Spark PSG's Revival

But PSG had other ideas. The turning point came in the 56th minute when Bradley Barcola outpaced Matheus Nunes on the flank. His pinpoint low cross found Ousmane Dembélé, who made no mistake from close range to bring PSG back into the game. The momentum shifted decisively in PSG’s favor just four minutes later. Desire Doue’s shot rebounded kindly off the post for Barcola, who guided the ball into the net with poise. In the blink of an eye, PSG were level, and the Parc des Princes erupted.

Joao Neves and Gonçalo Ramos Seal the Comeback

PSG weren’t done yet. In the 78th minute, Vitinha delivered a teasing free-kick into the box that City’s defense failed to clear. Rising to the occasion, Joao Neves executed a spectacular diving header, guiding the ball past Ederson to complete a remarkable turnaround. As the game entered its final moments, substitute Gonçalo Ramos put the icing on the cake. A long clearance ricocheted off Josko Gvardiol, fortuitously falling into Ramos’ path. The Portuguese forward slotted home PSG’s fourth goal. Initially ruled offside, the goal was eventually awarded after a lengthy VAR review.

PSG's Dominance: Stats Don’t Lie

The scoreline reflected PSG’s dominance, but the numbers painted an even starker picture. The Parisiens controlled 64% of possession, marking the first time a Pep Guardiola-coached team recorded just 36% possession. PSG also peppered City’s goal with 26 shots, nine of which were on target. In stark contrast, City managed just nine shots, six of them on target, highlighting how thoroughly the hosts outplayed their visitors.

What This Means for Both Teams

With this victory, PSG have leapfrogged Manchester City into 22nd place in the Champions League standings. While a top-eight finish is out of reach with only 10 points from seven games, clinching qualification into the knockout rounds is the next best outcome. With a favorable matchup against VfB Stuttgart in their final league-phase game, PSG fans have every reason to feel optimistic about their team’s chances of progressing.

For Manchester City, however, tonight’s loss to PSG is nothing short of a disaster. Currently sitting 25th in the UCL table, City are staring at the unthinkable: an early exit from the competition. It’s a staggering fall for a team that lifted the Champions League trophy just two seasons ago. That said, hope isn’t entirely lost for the Cityzens. Their final league-phase game is a home clash against Club Brugge, and a victory there could keep their qualification hopes alive. Adding to the drama, 22nd-placed PSG and 24th-placed Stuttgart will face off in the last matchday, potentially opening the door for City to sneak through with a win.