Africa in PSG-Man City: Idrissa Gana Gueye nets in PSG victory, Hakimi starts as Mahrez shines for City in Champions League
Idrissa Gueye was a villain the last time PSG and Manchester City meet in the Champions League as the Senegalese was shown the red card when City crushed out the French side in the competition back in April.
This time he writes his name with good memories scoring PSG’s first goal of the night before Messi doubled their lead in the second half.
Idrissa Gueye started along with Ander Herrera and Marco Verratti in a three man midfield while the Senegalese had Messi, Neymar and Mbappe in front of him.
At right-back Moroccan International Ashraf Hakimi started in four back along with Marquinhos, Presnel Kimpembe and Nuno Mendes.
A typical of PSG deadly attack saw Gueye put PSG ahead after just 8’ minutes on the clock. The French giants broke attack on the right flank that saw Mbappe slide a pass into the box which the ball was intended to find Neymar as City failed to clear the lines.
However, Neymar missed with an effort as the ball finds Gueye at the far posts; the Senegalese cut inside a bit before firing a powerful shot into the right roof of the net as PSG lead despite City dominating the game.
After the goal, Gueye was somehow quite as his co-midfielder Marco Verratti run the show for Paris Saint-Germain. Man City nearly found back of the net as they struck the woodwork twice within having Rahim Sterling put his head onto a cross that hit the cross bar before the rebound from Bernardo Silva also hit the left posts.
Riyad Mahrez started it all for Man City on the 25’ minute after exchanging passes with Rodrigo Cascante and Bernard Silva before the ball was finally stretched to the left side for a cross to be incurred.
The Algerian star returned to “Pep” Guardiola XI; played on the right side in a three men upfront together with Sterling in middle and Jack Grealish on the right.
At the beginning of the game, the Algerian struggled to create chances for Man City with Mendes proving an obstacle for the African super star.
However, he began to exploit the PSG defense in the later part of the first half. However, City failed to capitalized on his several crosses into the box as they got behind the Ligue side in the first half.
The Senegalese International surged into the light again in the second half as he was offered advanced role to surge forward.
Herrera and Verratti had to drawn to protect the PSG defense. Gueye linked up well with Neymar, Mbappe and Messi but PSG couldn’t extend their lead in early second half.
City should have drew level but Gianluigi Donnarumma was the man who stood City’s way for the equalizer.
PSG finally put the game beyond Manchester City with Lionel Messi scoring on the 74′ minute to register his first goal for the French side.
The victory ends PSG’s four consecutive Champions League games without a win when they last defeated Bayern Munich in April.
On the other hand, it’s City first Champions League group stage loss since September 2018 when they were beaten 2-1 by Lyon. They had gone 18 Champions League group stage games unbeaten by the time set above.
Lionel Messi got his 673rd club goal in his career, ending his three-game goal drought for his new club since completing a summer move from Barcelona.
Gueye was substituted for Danilo Pareira in stoppage time (90′ minute).
