Video. Guardiola’s reaction to the defeat in the match against PSG in the Champions League

The champions of France and England did not guarantee themselves anything until the penultimate round of the Champions League. “City” was at the end of the top 24, PSG – outside it, but only by one point. The victory significantly improved the chances of passing, but no one was going to take risks this evening.

Anyway, until the break. As soon as the game opened, both coaches could no longer regain control of what was happening. Luis Enrique traditionally went without a clean forward, betting on a flexible three Barcol-Lee Kang Ying-Due. At the same time, Mendes remained the third center back in case of counterattacks.

Which was very appropriate, because “City” agreed to play the second number with a bet on a quick transit to the attack through Holland and the KGB. It worked like that. Twice in the 1st half, due to long passes from the center, the leaders of “City” clung to the balls behind the other side’s defense line, but converted it into only one KGB shot from an acute angle. Plus there was Savinho’s exit to the goalkeeper from a sharp corner to Donnarumma.

It was the only time the City winger caught Hakimi, the man of the half. Hakimi was traditionally the sharpest player in the away half. Managed even without Dembele. PSG quickly passed through the center of the field at intervals, but did not use the dynamic advantage and dragged it out with aggravation. 94% passing accuracy in 45 minutes during a crazy downpour is not only about the class of players in Paris, but above all about the sterile football of Enrique. The MS with their “counterattack plan” had 87%. PSG’s chances before the half-time whistle came either from set pieces or after Luis Enrique’s charges were ignored.

Fabian’s dangerous shot after a corner was cleared by Guardiol. And the best moment came after Mendes flew into the other half against the coach’s instructions, and while Nuñez was keeping an eye on Barkol, Nunu played Lee Kang-in to the wall, then shot into the center and scored for Hakimi. However, a minimal offside saved Guardiola’s team. Both coaches were obviously unhappy with the game and made changes already at halftime that significantly affected the game.

And finally the game started, although it was obviously much sharper than both Catalan control freaks would have liked. Pep fielded Lewis inverted in an attempt to occupy key fields in the center and Grealish, who produced more sharpness in 5 minutes than in half a season. Enrique – Dembele, the sharpest player of the Parisians in the match. For “City”, the half started just fine.

The changes in the defense worked, surprisingly. At first, Akanji flew forward in a libero style. And ignored by everyone, including Mendes, climbed up the front and shot along the goal, and Grealish after the shot Bernarda finished at point blank range. Literally in three minutes, PSG failed in pressing, Nunes brazenly entered the center from the position of the right fullback, cut to Grealish, whose cross Neves clipped directly to Holland’s leg.

For a healthy Man City, this would be the end of the game – they would control until the death of anyone. The opponent’s quick goal in response also spoke for itself – frankly, there was no point in reorganizing for retention. Here Nunes’s weakness in defense was already exposed (plus Akanji went for a walk), from whom Barkolja escaped and shot Dembele at half-empty. Nunes was also heavily targeted – Mendes finally got the right to connect, plus the eight/false 9 came to overload.

So, Barkol once sharply hit from the penalty corner, and then from the same point Due put it into the crossbar, and the ball successfully came to Barkol on the finish. At the same time, Paris did not think of stopping there. They piled up with pressing, steadily took the ball in high areas and combined much more sharply. Dembele tested the crossbar after playing Joshko between his legs, then scored from offside. Clever Neves from the standard finally scored the third from Vitigny’s pass.

And “City” could not even organize a return attack – instead, they missed Ramush twice, who finally put an end to it in the compensated time. 4:2. PSG and Manchester City swapped places. The Parisians still have a difficult trip to Stuttgart in the final round, where they have to win. City will be keeping a close eye on this game as the Schwab fiasco could vacate the final play-off spot for them.