RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: After going to Saudi Arabia, Cristiano Ronaldo is almost certain to play in his first game, and it may pit him against Lionel Messi in a friendly game between the Saudi All-Star XI and Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain, as reported by GOAL.com. As per GOAL.com, on January 19, PSG will play […]
KATHMANDU, Jan. 2: Former champions Paris Saint-Germain lost 3-1 to Lens. It is the first time since last March that PSG has been defeated in League One. On March 20, PSG lost 3-0 to Monaco.
Lens has only lost once in a total of 17 games this season. With the win, it is only 4 points behind the leading team PSG. Lens took
KATHMANDU, Dec. 29: Paris Saint-Germain PSG won over Trasbourg in French League One football with a score of 2-1. Mbappe scored the winning goal to give PSG victory on Wednesday night. World champion Lionel Messi did not participate in the game. He remains in Argentina.
In the 62nd minute, Ney
Kylian Mbappe netted a sublime Champions League hat-trick for Paris St-Germain to upstage Barcelona's Lionel Messi on his own turf and draw comparisons with Brazilian Ronaldo.
At the age of 22, Mbappe has already won the World Cup with France and his latest showing signalled his capabilities of being the heir to Messi's throne.
A display of ice-cold finishing allowed PSG to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the last-16 second leg at Parc des Princes on 10 March.
"It is clear that he is a great footballer, today he has shown it with this hat-trick," said PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino. "The great players are creating a path and these three goals put him in the media spotlight.
"We had no doubts and we are happy for him, it's normal, there are going to be rumours [about him leaving]. What is clear is that he is happy in Paris and we all want to find the best way."
'The alpha dog in football'
Mbappe had netted just one goal in nine previous knockout games in the competition with PSG but turned that statistic on its head in ruthless fashion.
The night started with Messi opening the scoring from the penalty spot but he was left watching as his superiority slipped away.
Mbappe, whose contract with PSG ends in 2022, danced past fellow Frenchman Clement Lenglet to smash in the equaliser, stroked home from 10 yards for the second and curled in a delightful third.
"You say he's the future, but he is now," former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves said on BT Sport. "PSG have to lock him down real quick. Everyone will find enough money for Mbappe.
"It was a performance like the old Brazilian Ronaldo. You're not signing anyone other than Mbappe at the moment. He ripped the life out of every Barca player. In that form at 22 with a year left on his contract, he is an absolute diamond."
And the numbers make pleasant reading too.
Mbappe became the first player in Champions League history to score a hat-trick against Barcelona in the knockout stages.
He is only the third player to score a Champions League hat-trick against Barcelona, after Faustino Asprilla for Newcastle and Andriy Shevchenko for Dynamo Kiev (both in 1997).
He has now scored 24 Champions League goals. Only Messi, with 25, has scored more before his 23rd birthday.
Of players with 20 or more Champions League goals, Mbappe has netted the highest proportion in away matches (71% - 17/24).
Ex-England midfielder Joe Cole added: "Mbappe is the best player in the world at the moment. His link-up play, his work-rate off the ball - he is the alpha dog in football.
"If you want to build a team you go and get Mbappe. He is the most influential player on the planet. How good can he become? At 22 you compare his stats to the other greats and he has got 10 or 15 years ahead of him.
"Any of the big clubs, he is my number one target."
Antoine Griezmann was left disappointed at full-time but gave his French compatriot the biggest compliment by saying: "Kylian Mbappe had a great night. PSG has a great star for the future, who will be at the level of Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo."
Barcelona 'a shadow of its former self'
The future looks bright for Mbappe and PSG, but Messi and Barcelona are in a dark period.
The Argentine is 33 and his future at the club is far from certain having requested a transfer last summer and coming to the end of his current deal this season.
Manager Ronald Koeman has tried to mend an ageing squad but they look far from their imperious best with the league title looking lost too, eight points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.
The defeat against PSG meant they lost back-to-back home games in the European Cup for the first time in their illustrious history, while they were also defeated by a margin of three or more goals for only the sixth time in the competition.
"We have to admit that they have been superior," said Koeman. "They have shown that they have a more complete team than us. We have to accept it, improve things."
Hargreaves said: "Barca had no power, no togetherness. Messi looks disinterested, it's hard to criticise him but tonight he didn't look emotionally invested in the game.
"You'd have to do your due diligence before signing Messi, whether he is carrying an injury or not feeling well. The 34-year-old Messi, if he plays like that, it will be a gamble."
Barca can look to 2016-17 when they turned around a 4-0 first-leg deficit to stun PSG 6-1 in the second leg, but another turnaround looks almost impossible with no Neymar or Luis Suarez at their disposal any more.
Cole added: "It is not his [Koeman's] fault, I don't think it's his fault at all. It's a thankless task. That was the best team in the world for a long time and it is now a shadow of its former self."
BBC
Second-half goals from Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus fired City to a deserved Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain and sealed our ticket into the last 16.
In what was a pulsating Etihad encounter, Kylian Mbappe had fired the visitors into a 49th minute lead against the run of play.
But roared on by a passionate crowd, Sterling struck to level matters on 63 minutes before substitute Jesus rounded off a memorable night by converting from close range 14 minutes from time to seal the deal.
WHAT HAPPENED
It was an eagerly anticipated match-up between two of Europe’s most gifted and exciting sides – and the action didn’t disappoint.
The game began at a breakneck speed with Oleks Zinchenko deployed in midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side and it was City who almost made the early breakthrough.
A towering sixth-minute Riyad Mahrez free-kick found Rodrigo leaping tallest at the back post and the Spaniard’s angled header was goalbound only for PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe to head off the line.
Even then the danger wasn’t averted and Mahrez’s powerful follow-up shot rifled into the side netting.
Not surprisingly at the other end, the French side’s superstar attacking trident of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi sought to probe and harry the hosts at every opportunity but it was City on the front foot.
Mahrez was a key attacking outlet down the right channel and a quite brilliant, sweeping City move on 18 minutes instigated by the Algerian almost broke the deadlock.
Gathering the ball from Bernardo Silva, Mahrez then slalomed in from the left edge of the box before dispatching a goalbound shot which was headed over by Achraf Hakimi.
A low 27th-minute effort from Nuno Mendes forced Ederson into his first meaningful save and was a reminder of the threat posed by Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
But City carved open another excellent opportunity almost immediately, Marquinhos’ lunge blocking a close-range Zinchenko shot after fine work by Sterling down the left flank.
City were knocking on the Paris door with almost relentless pressure and we came the closest yet to a deserved breakthrough on 33 minutes as skipper Ilkay Gundogan smacked the outside of the post after Mendes had diverted Cancelo’s cross invitingly into the German’s path 10 yards out.
PSG keeper Keylor Navas then earned his stripes by diving low to tip away danger man Mahrez’s low skidding effort as Guardiola’s men kept our iron grip on proceedings.
However, just before the break, there was a huge let-off for City.
After Neymar had wrestled possession midway in our half, the Brazilian’s slide rule pass put Mbappe clear in space behind Kyle Walker on the left edge of the City box but, fortunately, the striker’s curling effort was high and wide, to the Etihad’s collective relief.
There was a nagging fear however that City could regret not converting that pressure – and four minutes after the restart PSG clicked into gear with a devastating smash and grab raid.
A breakneck attack featuring Neymar, Messi, Mendes and Herrera culminated with a low Messi deflected drive that found Mbappe unmarked at the far post.
This time he made no mistake, cutting inside before firing beyond Ederson to put the visitors ahead.
It was a cruel body blow but with the Etiahd roaring them on, City kept searching for that elusive goal and only a fine 62nd minute Navas block prevented Mahrez claiming the goal his display merited.
Finally, however City were rewarded in 63 minutes through Raheem Sterling.
Kyle Walker was the architect, the right back latching onto Rodrigo’s superb chip and dragging the ball back into the centre of the box.
Substitute Gabriel Jesus claimed the faintest of touches and Sterling stretched to force the ball home in off the post.
With our tails up, we poured forward in search of a second and Navas was at full stretch to tip away a 70th minute Jesus snapshot.
However, there was another big let off at the other end when Neymar skipped through the City backline after a neat one-two but then dragged his shot wide.
And we made the PSG pay for that error on 77 miniutes as we took a merited lead.
The brilliant Mahrez clipped a ball to the far post for Bernardo who showed poise and vision to play a first time pass back for Jesus to smash home from six-yards.
PSG sought to summon up a response but City held firm to seal what was a thoroughly deserved victory and a night to remember!
WHAT IT MEANS
City can look forward to next month’s group finale away to RB Leipzig safe in the knowledge our ticket to the last 16 and top spot is already secure.
With a punishing December schedule, it means the pressure and intensity will be somewhat relaxed for our trip to Germany.
The perfect scenario for Guardiola and his squad.
PEP’S VERDICT
"Of course, PSG, what a team, what players, what could I say. Performance is quite similar to Paris a month ago. Today we created more chances in the first half.
"We played really well and always we had the sense that they could run, wow. They have a lot of quality, we tried to defend away from our goal because they can do anything.
"Except for the five minutes after our goal when they counter attacked but could not finish because Ruben defended really well… Congrats to everyone in the club.
"We are into the last 16 and will try our best in February to go to quarters."
WHAT’S NEXT
City are back in Premier League action on Sunday when we play host to West Ham United.
Kick-off at the Etihad is slated for 2 pm and, as usual, we will have comprehensive coverage on mancity.com and our official app.
Man City
PARIS, Aug. 14: Lionel Messi was introduced to some 49,000 fans in a full Parc des Princess stadium before watching his teammates beat Strasbourg 4-2 on Saturday's Ligue 1 action.
The former Barcelona ace was presented with PSG's other four summer signings Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Achraf Hakimi in a welcome ceremony at the center of the pitch just one hour before the kick-off.
The six-time Ballon d'Or winner then joined Neymar and his fellow Argentine Angel di Maria to watch from the stands as Mauricio Pochettino's side escaped a fightback from the visitors in the second half to pocket their second win in as many games in the new season.
Mauro Icardi opened the scoring for PSG only two minutes into the game and Kylian Mbappe made it 2-0 in the 25th minute before the French forward set up another for Julian Draxler only two minutes later.
Strasbourg created more chances in the second half and clawed back to 3-2 thanks to two headers from Kevin Gameiro and Ludovic Ajorque. But they suffered a blow in the closing period when Alexander Djiku fouled on Icardi to receive his second yellow card and make his team being reduced to 10 men.
Pablo Sarabia tapped in PSG's fourth from Mbappe's cross in the 86th minute to make the score out of Strasbourg's reach.
Mbappe, whose contract with PSG is to expire next year, has been linked with Real Madrid recently as home fans whistled at the 22-year-old amid transfer speculation.
"I did not hear the whistles," Pochettino insisted. "I am happy with him. He's focused on what he needs to do and had a really good game. He must continue on this path."
PSG's president Nasser al-Khelaifi has said on Wednesday, at the unveiling ceremony of Messi, that Mbappe "has no reason to leave" since PSG now is the right place for him to seek for the trophies.
Earlier in the day, defending champions Lille were hammered 4-0 at home by Nice, whose coach Christophe Galtier had led Lille to the title last season and arrived in the southern French team this summer.
Denmark striker Kasper Dolberg hit a brace for Nice with Hicham Boudaoui and Amine Gouiri were also on target.
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