PSG win 2-0 against City as Messi opens his goal account
Lionel Messi opened his account for PSG in an emphatic fashion as PSG overcome a tough Manchester City test.
PSG vs Manchester City
PSG beat Manchester City 2-0 at Perc Des Princes. Although the scoreline suggests a PSG domination, it was the other way around. Meanwhile, Messi opened his PSG account late in the game with an emphatic effort at goal.
Idrissa Gueye opened PSG’s goal-scoring account after rifling a shot into to top corner after good work from Kylian Mbappe. Manchester City dominated the ball and space very well throughout the game. Apart from an occasional drive from Neymar and Mbappe PSG did not create any substantial changes in the first half. Meanwhile, City was busy tearing PSG’s defense apart on the other end.
Pep Guardiola’s men created many clear chances but did not gobble up any of them. Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Kevin De Bruyne all came close to score a goal.
Gianluigi Donarumma proved why he is one of the best keepers around in the game. The young Italian was in a scintillating form stopping City’s attempts on goal.
Manchester City’s lack of a traditional number 9 was evident from start to the finish. Although the flexible and ever-changing fluid attacks look good to watch the English champions lack the ruthlessness of a number 9. They were heavily linked with the likes of Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer transfer window but none came into fruition.
Messi scores his first goal
Meanwhile, PSG showed in the other end what a world-class finisher can do to change a game on its head. After many weeks of banging the crossbars and posts, Lionel Messi scored his (much awaited) first for the Parisians. And what a strike it was. The Argentinian maestro leading a Parisian counter picked the ball off the right-hand side, dribble through the middle into City’s midfield, passed the ball to Mbappe, who immediately returned the ball with a sublime first-time backheel to the Argentinian. The rest was all Messi. The 34-year-old banged the ball into the top corner of the City’s net and the crowd erupted from their seats singing his name.
With this goal, Messi becomes the player with the most goals against Guardiola’s Manchester City. It is worth noting Messi is not playing in the Premier League. The Argentine has also scored 27 goals against his Premier League oppositions in the Champions League.
PSG next plays Rennes away from home in Ligue 1 on Sunday.