Paris Saint-German hosted Manchester City at Parc des Princes, Paris, semi-final fixture of the UEFA Champions League first leg, where the visitors crushed the PSG side 2-1 and went home with two crucial away goals.
FULL TIME | WHAT. A. WIN. 💙
🔴 1-2 🔵 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/7A3Nl9G7tc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 28, 2021
Riyad Mahrez netting the winner after Kevin De Bruyne’s equalizer before hosts had Idrissa Gueye sent off. PSG midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off for a terrible tackle on Ilkay Gundogan late on in the game
Today was the first time in Kylian Mbappe's career in which he didn't register a single shot in a Champions League match that he started 😅 pic.twitter.com/66nM9qOAmH
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 28, 2021
Kylian Mbappe was nowhere in the game he did not take any sort in the match and that shows Guardiola was successful and clinical with his tactics to stop the threat.
The match was under control till the first- half for Neymar and co, as they were leading the scoreline at home by 1-0 and it happened when the Brazilian skipper clinical header from a pinpoint corner in the 15th minute of the game. That kept Mauricio Pochettino’s side in lead until the first half.
“The two different half, first half we did well. Was difficult to dominate a team like City. We create chances. We deserved to go to the dressing room with an advantage. In the second half they deserved it, the goals were two accidents. They dominated the second half and created more than us. One half for each. For the two goals, we feel very disappointed. The first was difficult, the second sometimes happens in the semi-final and that is painful that it happens at this moment. Difficult to explain why we were better [in the first half], and in the second they were more consistent. For us was difficult to cope with their exchanges and physical conditions. They were more aggressive and for us was difficult to recover the ball. Long periods of possession for City. We didn’t show this energy you need when you recover to keep possession and force them to go deeper. That’s what happened. It’s the second leg, in football, you need to believe, go there in six days and do the same, approach the game like today, win score goals. We are in a little advantage of City but you always need to try.” said Mauricio Pochettino
90mn left… ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/073cfkcVVQ
— Riyad Mahrez (@Mahrez22) April 28, 2021
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Riyad Mahrez scored the winning goal in the 71st minute with a free-kick that snuck through the wall, which was sensational by the Algerian and it gave the PSG the control over the game.
“They’re so incredibly dangerous with Mbappe in behind. But we found the goals and could’ve scored more. Just half of the job done. If we play shy and not who we are, anything can happen. But if we play who we are, maybe we have the chance to reach the final. Of course, we start well, after we concede the goal after we felt the pressure. Sometimes every player has to do more touches, every player does just one touch to put the ball out, but that’s normal. For a lot of people, it’s our first time in the semi-finals and they want to do it well. The last 10 minutes of the first half were good, the second half excellent in every department. We scored two goals away which is so important A hard job to do in six days.” said Guardiola
