Champions League: PSG roars back to beat Man City, Arsenal nets crucial win. In one of the most anticipated first round encounters of this UEFA Champions League season, the clash between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain truly lived up to expectations.
Amidst a torrential downpour in the heart of France’s capital, PSG staged a remarkable comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the second half, netting four consecutive goals at Parc des Princes for a stunning 4-2 victory.
In other action across Europe, Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord shocked Bayern Munich with a 3-0 win, while Arsenal secured a similar scoreline against Dinamo Zagreb in London. Meanwhile, reigning champions Real Madrid dominated FC Salzburg with a 5-0 thrashing, and AC Milan edged past Spanish side Girona.
Here are three significant insights following Wednesday’s matches.
Man City-PSG exceeded expectations
From the moment the inaugural Leagues Phase schedule was released last summer, this marquee matchup was marked as a must-watch event for fans worldwide. The intensity was palpable from the outset, and the rain-soaked pitch only heightened the drama of this star-studded affair.
After a VAR review disallowed an Achraf Hakimi goal just before halftime, Manchester City seemed in control with goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland shortly after the break.
However, the tide turned dramatically when Ousmane Dembélé scored just three minutes after Haaland’s goal. Following that, Bradley Barcola and Joao Neves struck to put PSG ahead, leaving the stunned Premier League champions scrambling for answers. The icing on the cake came in stoppage time with Gonçalo Ramos’ well-placed finish, confirmed after a review.
Ramos’ goal marked the home team’s 26th shot of the night, and for the dominant Parisians, the victory was a well-earned triumph.
For Manchester City, this defeat adds to a challenging season. With one first round match left against Belgium’s Club Brugge on January 29, the 2023 European champions find themselves in 25th place out of 36 teams. Pep Guardiola’s squad must win that game to avoid early elimination from the knockout stage—a scenario few would have predicted back in September.
Arsenal secures vital points
Martin Odegaard’s goal in second half stoppage time may have flattered Arsenal, but a 3-0 victory is always a confidence booster. This win propelled the Gunners back into third place in the standings, just ahead of Inter on goal difference. If Arsenal wins against Girona in their final first round match, they could move into second place if Barcelona loses their finale against Atalanta later this month.
AC Milan triumphs as Christian Pulisic returns
Facing the risk of missing the knockout stages after a sluggish start to the 2024-25 season, AC Milan secured their spot in the round of 16 with Wednesday’s victory. Portuguese forward Rafael Leão scored the decisive goal just eight minutes before halftime.
Although that was the only goal Milan managed, the Spanish visitors never looked likely to equalize.
From an American perspective, the highlight of the day was the return of Christian Pulisic, who came on as a substitute late in the match. After being sidelined due to a calf injury, Pulisic’s presence on the field was a welcome sight for fans, especially after USMNT defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty led Celtic to a potential knockout stage clinching 1-0 victory over Swiss team Young Boys.
