How did Man City fare in Paris ahead of Chelsea's visit?

By Alessandro Schiavone at Parc des Princes

PSG 4-2 Manchester City

Goals: Grealish 50' (MC), Haaland 53' (MC), Dembele 60' (MC), Joao Neves 78' (PSG), Ramos 93' (PSG)

Just four days ahead of their crunch meeting with Chelsea on Saturday, Manchester City endured one of the most chastening nights of Pep Guardiola’s reign in Paris.

An undeserved quick-fire second-half 2-0 lead turned into a 4-2 battering that has seen Mateo Kovacic and company slip into an embarrassing 25th in the Champions League. 

When the draws were made in August, many expected this to be a dead rubber with qualification already all but secured by now for the two filthy rich clubs.

After all, Man City won the competition only 19 months ago while the French giants, who have yet to taste glory in this competition 14 seasons since their Qatari takeover, were in the semis as recently as last term. But as the club de la capitale know, there’s no linear path to success, with this contest turning into a must-win for either side.

Taking a goalless draw into half-time more than flattered the fallen Premier League giants as PSG were by far more dominant side. Achraf Hakimi had a goal disallowed after Joao Neves, Bernardo Silva and Fabian Ruiz, whose shot was cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol all had chances to net. Playing like rabbits in the headlights, City survived wave after wave of attacks and in between they almost nicked one on the break. Savinho was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma’s left knee in on goal while Kevin De Bruyne had a shot parried after a snooker action. 

Crocked Ballon d’Or winner Rodri was back in Paris after winning the Ballon d’Or less than two months ago. And how City could have done with his talismanic presence in a moment of need!

Whether the club’s decline is down to the rupture of his ACL back in September, Guardiola’s private life crisis or the ageing of a legendary squad or all three…we will never fully know.

Having taken a shock lead through Jack Grealish and doubled their advantage with Erling Haaland on the end of a fortuitous Joao Neves clearance that fell invitingly into his path at the far-post after the restart, City began to collapse.

They just couldn’t live with PSG’s attacking assault.

And with their own defence not exactly their forte at the moment, with new signing Vitor Reis and Khusanov yet to make their debut, they were ripped to pieces.

Ousmane Dembele, who was forever linked with a move to the Premier League during his Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona days, reduced the deficit after guiding home Bradley Barcola’s cutback. 

Perhaps feeling the heat of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s multimillionaire arrival from Napoli, the left winger was on fire and bundled home the equalizer after Desire Doue’s effort cannoned off the crossbar.

City all of a sudden forgot how to defend and survived a number of tsunamis including Dembele rattling the woodwork after nutmegging Bernardo Silva. 

Yet it was a matter of 'when' PSG would finally take the lead in the game and Neves, at fault for City’s second, headed home a free-kick at the far-post with 12 minutes to go.

Yet City never looked like scoring and turninf the tide.

Gonçalo Ramos made it 4-2 deep into injury-time when he fired home an immaculate effort.

City now have no choice but to win when they welcome Belgian serial winners Club Bruges at the Etihad in a week's time.

But first Chelsea. And on the basis of what they’ve produced tonight, disciple Enzo Maresca will know exactly what to do to haunt former mentor Guardiola.