The top match in the second round of the Champions League between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City has been decided in favor by the French. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was 2-0 too strong at home due to hits from Idrissa Gueye and Lionel Messi. For Messi it was his first goal in the shirt of the Parisians. The game was partly dominated by PSG feelings of revenge, as the team was eliminated by the English superpower in the semi-finals last year. Club Brugge triumphed 1-2 to visit RB Leipzig.
Paris Saint Germain v Manchester City 2-0
At PSG, three basic players returned to the basic team. The Ligue 1 passed Gianluigi Donnarumma name placed under the bar, Marco Verratti returned from injury and Messi was also there from the first minute. City had an excellent run in the Champions League and remained unbeaten in the last ten away games, but quickly found themselves behind on a visit to PSG. After eight minutes of play, Neymar did not get his foot against the ball after a cross from the right, but it was Gueye who managed to find the net. The midfielder gave himself space to shoot and found the top right corner: 1-0.
That standing was not a good reflection of the balance of power on the field, as City was the dominant party in the first act. However, Pep Guardiola’s team failed to score. After a wonderful cross with the outside of Kevin De Bruyne’s foot, both Raheem Sterling (header) and Bernardo Silva (rebound) hit the crossbar. Even after fumbling in the defense of Presnel Kimpembe, Sterling was unable to score. Both teams had chances to score in the remainder of the first half, but a shot by Ander Herrera ended in the hands of Ederson and a cross from Kylian Mbappé was just too sharp for Marquinhos.
???????????? ??????????? ?? There it is! Messi’s first in the service of PSG, and what a goal ??#ZiggoSport #UCL #PSGMCI pic.twitter.com/lDs2M62GMQ
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) September 28, 2021
Also in the second act it was City that was the parent. However, De Bruyne shot into an outstretched leg from Donnarumma and a shot from Riyad Mahrez lacked power to surprise the Italian goalkeeper. While the equalizer was in the air, it was PSG that decided the game via Messi. The Argentinian pulled in from the right side, combined with Mbappé on the edge of the box and made an excellent effort in the top right corner: 2-0. It marked Messi’s first goal for PSG. Georginio Wijnladum was then allowed to make his appearance for another ten minutes, but nothing changed about the score.
RB Leipzig – Club Brugge 1-2
With Noa Lang in the starting line-up and Bas Dost and Ruud Vormer on the bench, Club Brugge quickly fell behind when visiting Leipzig. Emil Forsberg came through on the left side of the field and served Christopher Nkunku, after which the latter kept cool face to face with Simon Mignolet: 1-0. Referee Slavko Vincic initially disallowed the goal for offside, but reversed his decision after VAR intervention. Hans Vanaken soon had the opportunity to give something back, but found Peter Gulacsi on his way. Halfway through the first half, the Club Brugge midfielder was accurate in his second attempt.
Charles De Ketelaere came through on the left and put the ball wide on Vanaken, for whom it was then a breeze to finish with the inside of the foot: 1-1. Completely against the odds, the visitors even took the lead just before half-time, when a cross from Clinton Mata was put back by Vanaken at the far post. The last push was given by Mats Rits: 1-2. In an even second half, Lang thought he would further increase the score in the final phase, but his goal was disallowed for offside. Mignolet saved Club Brugge from losing points in the final phase, when he made an excellent save on a shot by André Silva.