Manchester City’s Champions League campaign teetered on the brink of disaster as Paris Saint-Germain staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 4-2 victory at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
The stunning result leaves City in 25th place, outside the playoff qualification spots, and facing a must-win scenario against Club Brugge in their final group game.
City’s Bright Start Quickly Fades
After a goalless first half marked by heavy rain and a disallowed Achraf Hakimi goal for PSG, City appeared to have turned the tide with a blistering start to the second half.
Substitute Jack Grealish opened the scoring in the 50th minute, smashing in a rebound from Bernardo Silva’s shot.
Just three minutes later, Erling Haaland capitalized on a deflected cross from Grealish, doubling the lead with a clinical finish.
The two quick strikes seemed to put the English champions in control, but what followed was a masterclass in resilience from PSG.
PSG’s Spectacular Comeback
Ousmane Dembélé reignited PSG’s hopes in the 56th minute, converting a cross from Bradley Barcola with a precise finish.
Barcola then leveled the score just four minutes later, reacting quickest to slot home after Désiré Doué’s thunderous shot rattled the crossbar.
With the momentum firmly in their favor, PSG pressed relentlessly and found their reward in the 78th minute.
A poorly cleared Vitinha free kick fell kindly for João Neves, who headed in from close range to send the home crowd into raptures.
Gonçalo Ramos sealed the victory deep into stoppage time, finishing off a slick counterattack to cap an unforgettable night for PSG.
City on the Brink
For Manchester City, the result is a stark reminder of their struggles this season.
The reigning European champions have now won just two of their seven group games, a sharp contrast to the dominance that saw them lift the trophy in 2023.
City manager Pep Guardiola, visibly frustrated on the sidelines, faces the daunting task of rallying his team ahead of their January 29 showdown with Club Brugge.
The Belgian side will travel to the Etihad Stadium, knowing a draw could spell the end of City’s title defense.
What’s Next?
PSG, buoyed by their remarkable comeback, climbed to 22nd in the table and are well-positioned to secure a playoff spot. They will wrap up their group-stage campaign with a visit to VfB Stuttgart.
City, on the other hand, must regroup and rediscover their form. Their inability to hold on to leads—evidenced by a recent 3-3 draw with Feyenoord after leading by three goals—has become a worrying trend.
For City, it’s all or nothing on Jan. 29. For the Parisians, the victory sends a clear message they are ready to fight for European glory.
Santiago Giménez Leads Feyenoord to a Crushing 3-0 Victory Over Bayern Munich
Feyenoord shocked the football world on Wednesday night with a dominant 3-0 win over Bayern Munich, powered by a first-half brace from Santiago Giménez and a late goal from Ayase Ueda.
The Dutch side’s victory leaves Bayern reeling and on the brink of the Champions League playoffs.
Mexican star Giménez opened the scoring in the 21st minute, expertly finishing a cross from Gijs Smal.
He doubled the lead just before halftime with a composed penalty after a clumsy foul by Bayern’s Raphaël Guerreiro.
Despite relentless pressure from Bayern in the second half, including 32 attempts on goal and near-misses from Harry Kane and Leroy Sané, Feyenoord’s goalkeeper Justin Bijlow was a wall in front of the net.
His heroic saves kept the Bavarians at bay, and Ueda sealed the game with a clinical finish in the 89th minute.
The loss pushes Bayern into 15th place on the table with 12 points, while Feyenoord climbs to 11th with 13 points, securing a stronger chance at advancing to the top 16.
Bayern must now face Slovan Bratislava next week in a must-win match to avoid further embarrassment, while Feyenoord looks to secure their top-eight finish against Lille.
