Manchester City are on the verge of a premature UEFA Champions League exit after a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday morning (AEDT).
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After a scoreless opening half, it was raining goals at the Parc des Princes shortly after half-time. Jack Grealish rifled home from close range in the 50th minute and Erling Haaland, who recently penned an eye-watering nine-year contract extension at the Etihad, doubled City’s advantage just three minutes later.
With an early exit from the Champions League beginning to look more plausible, Bradley Barcola took the initiative and within seven minutes created a goal for Ousman Dembele then scored the equaliser to level the contest on the hour mark.
Dembele struck the crossbar with a ferocious effort as City’s defence started to crumble. A third PSG goal seemed inevitable, and after the visitors failed to deal with a cross Joao Neves headed home to complete an incredible comeback.
Goncalo Ramos added a fourth before the full-time whistle, leaving City in 25th and on the brink of elimination.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal rose to third on the table with a 3-0 triumph against Dinamo Zagreb after goals from Declan Rice and Kai Havertz sealed the three points.
Rice struck in just the second minute to calm nerves in north London but the Gunners’ lack of a true goal-scoring No.9 was on show again, with Mikel Arteta’s side failing to convert possession and chances on the scoreboard until Havertz made the points safe after 66 minutes and Martin Odegaard added a late goal.
“It’s so important (to share goal-scoring), I think the manager has been on us really hard about midfielders arriving because so many goals can come from there,” Rice said.
“It’s down to us to make up that extra five, 10 yards. Martin obviously did there at the end, I did for the header, so we’ve got to keep arriving there. Everybody’s contributing. Look it was an important win tonight. It’s been a very positive Champions League campaign, so we’ve got one more to go now, hopefully we can win that as well.”
German giants Bayern Munich could have gone fifth with a win but were instead upset 2-0 by Feyenoord, making a top-eight finish increasingly difficult.
Real Madrid’s star forwards were among the goals as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over Red Bull Salzburg, lifting Carlo Ancelotti’s side to 16th, ahead of Juventus on goal difference.
In Glasgow, Celtic somehow saw three goals disallowed in the first half against Young Boys and Arne Engels’ penalty was well saved. The Swiss side held on valiantly until Loris Benito’s own goal in the 86th minute was enough for a slender 1-0 Celtic win, ensuring a round of 16 playoff spot for the Scottish champions.
Brest missed a chance to show their top-eight credentials, going down 2-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk to leave the French club in 12th place.
The Roarhttps://https://ift.tt/OFSudkq Wrap: City on the brink after wild PSG comeback, Gunners rise to third with Zagreb victory
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