PSG enjoys, Real Madrid comes out miraculously

Author of a sumptuous first period, frankly shaken afterwards, Paris SG won another extraordinary European match (4-2) Wednesday on the Manchester City pitch, as they did against Bayern Munich last season.

Certainly, the issue of this match at this stage of the season was not that of the semi-final first leg against the German club last April (5-4 victory), Luis Enrique did not fail to remind us of this on the eve of this poster for the second day.

But both in the intensity and in the technical quality and dramaturgy, with the Mancunians rebellious in the second half after having taken a lesson in the first, this match rose to this level.

And if the two teams have shown that they will have to be counted on next spring, at a time when the Champions League will reach its conclusion, the message sent by the Parisian club will be heard more on the European scene.

With exceptional accuracy and thanks to the talent of its individuals, Désiré Doué in the lead, the Parisian club dominated during the first 45 minutes a team that was victorious in all its Premier League matches this season, the last largely, at Liverpool (3-0) in addition.

Manchester City had nevertheless taken care of its pre-match with many fireworks, a video showing the great moments of its history and several banners: “City ’til I die” (Manchester City, until death). The message was clear: despite the sword of Damocles hanging over him since he was found guilty of financial doping from 2009 to 2018, the club was there before, it will be there after.

But once the kick-off was given, and after a first clear opportunity for Manchester City (12th), Paris laid down the law by scoring three magnificent goals. The first by Désiré Doué, initially with an exceptional ball release and a conclusion which was no less exceptional, with a hidden and precise shot (13th).

Former Parisian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma barely had time to give the ball back to his teammates before he had to bend down again to pick it up in his net: 99 seconds later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled the score with a header, after a one-two of rare finesse with Désiré Doué (15th).

Then it was Vitinha who invited himself to this party, found by a cross from Achraf Hakimi deflected with a delicious backheel by Warren Zaire-Emery (32nd).

The crestfallen expression of Pep Guardiola, in the stands for the first home meeting of his former club since the conclusion of the investigation by an independent commission of the English championship, spoke volumes. “We are at home,” the Parisian ultras were already singing.

But it was a little too early to tell. Invigorated by the entry into play, in particular, of former Lille player Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye at half-time, Manchester City returned with the intention and the means to turn everything around.

And Paris, until then mainly worried during set pieces – a constant throughout the match – was largely dominated. Of their multiple chances, the Citizens only made two profitable, by their scorer Erling Haaland (53rd, 75th), with a header then a foot, but they had the opportunities to do more, sometimes stopped by the Parisian goalkeepers or Matveï Safonov.

Conversely, the Parisians did a lot with little, scoring again through Maghnes Akliouche (63rd), surprise holder at the expense of Khvicha Kvarastkhelia at kick-off, who gave his team some fresh air, helped by Gianluigi Donnarumma. At the end of the match, Ferran Torres, formerly of the sky blue house, even missed the opportunity to increase the score by missing his penalty (90th).

It was ultimately Paris who emerged victorious from this duel of European leaders, the first poster on their way to the treble before a meeting with Barça next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.

Real Madrid, for its part, achieved a miracle in Rome: without idea or control, the Spanish giant came very close to sinking and was trailing 3 to 1 until the 83rd minute, before winning 4 to 3 on Wednesday during the second day of the Champions League.

For its reunion with the premier competition of European football, after seven seasons of absence, the Olympic Stadium wanted to vibrate and its team did not disappoint. Until the last minutes when Roma completely lost their footing and conceded three goals.

For 83 minutes, the Roman tactical discipline, dear to Gian Piero Gasperini, hit the mark all the more as opposite, Real Madrid looked like a white nebula multiplying errors and blunders, very briefly regaining shape on a flash of one of its individuals, with Kylian Mbappé often in this role.

This was enough for Jose Mourinho to leave Rome where he coached between 2021 and 2024 with victory. Not sure that this improbable burst will work during the “clasico” of October 25 against Barça which is already ahead of Real by six points in the league.

From the fourth minute, Paulo Dybala put Thibaut Courtois in difficulty with a cross that was barely repelled by the Belgian goalkeeper. The ball landed at the feet of Marco Hermoso whose shot was saved by Courtois after a spectacular save.

Even the exit of French midfielder Manu Kone, his head in his jersey after undoubtedly realizing the seriousness of his injury (16th), did not give respite to Real Madrid, non-existent and incapable of controlling the ball.

The Giallorossi logically opened the scoring in the 20th minute: Matias Soulé sent a back pass to Martin de Roon whose recovery deceived Courtois. Three minutes later, Donyell Malen was ready to double the lead: his dry shot from close range was almost miraculously stopped in two stages by Courtois.

On the verge of a knockout, Real Madrid quickly regained its senses thanks to Mbappé. Taking advantage of an error by Mario Hermoso, the French striker who was playing his 100th C1 match, surprised Pierluigi Gollini (1-1, 25th).

The last action of the first period even almost allowed Real to take the lead: in added time, Vinicius, extremely discreet until then, found Bellingham whose recovery passed very close to Gollini’s left post.

But upon returning from the locker room, Real quickly fell back into its mistakes, between ball losses and marking errors.

After a ball lost by Vinicius in midfield, Rodrigo Mora, who came on to replace Dybala at the break, launched Malen who resisted Valverde’s return and shot Courtois (2-1, 51st).

The Dutch striker, top scorer in Serie A (6 goals), sent the Olympic Stadium into seventh heaven six minutes later by going offside to bring the score to 3-1 (57th).

Salvation for Real came from the entry of Endrick who, despite limited playing time, gave momentum and hope to his team. On a header from the Brazilian, Pierluigi Gollini diverted the ball into the feet of Carlos Espi who, from point blank range, reduced the score to 3-2 (82nd).

The Romans, so calm until then, began to panic: on a corner, Endrick took the opportunity to equalize (85th), before Antonio Rudiger, still receiving a corner, gave his team the victory (90th).

“We lost a match that we had dominated in an incredible way. We were paralyzed at the end of the match, it was mainly at the mental level that we failed,” regretted Gasperini on the broadcaster Prime.

“We can say that there were two matches in one,” Mourinho analyzed. The first where Roma was superior in all sectors and the second where we were better organized, maybe they were also dead because their style of play is tiring.