PSG 2-0 Man City LIVE! Messi goal - Champions League result, match stream and latest updates today
PSG vs Manchester City - LIVE!
A heavyweight clash between two of last season’s Champions League semi-finalists did not disappoint as Lionel Messi’s first PSG goal helped earn a 2-0 win over Manchester City.
Idrissa Gueye opened the scoring in the French capital before City responded and should really have equalised, had it not been for a remarkable miss from Bernardo Silva after Raheem Sterling had hit the bar.
City continued to push for a leveller into the second half before Messi took centre-stage, exchanging passes with Kylian Mbappe before guiding a stunning effort into the corner.
It was a trademark goal from the Argentine and his first since joining the club from Barcelona in the summer after a slow start to life in France, not helped by injury and his lack of a proper preseason while speculation raged over his future.
You can follow all the action LIVE with Standard Sport’s blog below...
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Key Points
GOAL! Messi scores trademark stunner
GOAL! Gueye strikes early for hosts
TV channel: BT Sport 2
Man City team news: Sterling, Mahrez start
PSG team news: Messi starts
Lionel Messi has been speaking after opening his PSG account...
22:49 , Malik Ouzia
“I really wanted to get out there. I haven’t played much. I’m still getting used to my teammates, the team, and today was an important moment.”
Here’s what the Man City boss had to say...
22:30 , Malik Ouzia
"We controlled them, unfortunately, we could not score."
"The goal was fantastic."
Pep Guardiola reacts to a disappointing night for Man City in Paris.
🎙 @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/ftRLe2Mugs— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 28, 2021
22:29 , Malik Ouzia
Tonight’s other game in Group A saw Club Brugge come from behind to beat RB Leipzig 2-1. That means PSG sit top of the group on four points, ahead of Brugge on goal difference, with City a point adrift in third.
Leipzig are bottom after successive defeats and already look to have a tough ask to qualify.
22:23 , Malik Ouzia
Pep Guardiola seems a littel reluctant to laud Lionel Messi too much. He calls his goal “fantastic”.
22:15 , Malik Ouzia
Rio Ferdinand is rarely shy in his praise for Lionel Messi and he was up celebrating in the BT Sport studio when that goal went in - and not just as a former Man United player.
"The big players put in the big performances in the big games, and that's what Leo Messi did tonight."
A big three points and Lionel Messi's first goal for the club, that was a big night for PSG!#UCL pic.twitter.com/gz73vK36JQ— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 28, 2021
FT: PSG 2-0 Man City
21:56 , Malik Ouzia
A cracking game - and one that will no doubt be remembered for Lionel Messi’s first PSG goal.
We’ll have all the reaction from Paris as we get it...
21:53 , Malik Ouzia
90+2 mins: Lionel Messi takes on the old draught-excluder role as Mahrez lines up a free-kick and it’s not a bad effort but Donnarumma is there to palm it away.
21:51 , Malik Ouzia
90 mins: Danilo is on in place of Gueye for the last few minutes as Mauricio Pochettino looks to see this through.
21:49 , Malik Ouzia
88 mins: Suddenly, Messi is absolutely everywhere. Nipping inside, getting on the ball, running the show.
The other two of the ‘big three’ almost combine as Mbappe’s latest backheel slides Neymar in on the byline but his attempt to return the ball is intercepted by Ederson.
21:44 , Malik Ouzia
83 mins: Into the final ten minutes and that goal looks like it’s knocked the stuffing out of City. The gaps are there for PSG on the break if they can exploit them.
Here is Lionel Messi’s first PSG goal...
21:41 , Malik Ouzia
MESSI AND MBAPPE COMBINE FOR A BEAUTIFUL GOAL!
It was a matter of time before they clicked, and it was worth the wait 🔥#UCL pic.twitter.com/5scpcQw1ty— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 28, 2021
21:38 , Malik Ouzia
78 mins: Marco Verrratti’s return from injury is over just after he’d picked up a booking and Georginio Wijnaldum is on.
Gabriel Jesus has replaced Raheem Sterling for City.
GOAL! PSG 2-0 Man City | Lionel Messi 74'
21:35 , Malik Ouzia
Vintage!
It’s absolutely brilliant from Lionel Messi. He’s fed by Verratti just inside the City half and then drives inside, laying in to Mbappe, who flicks it back into his path and the Argentine bends first-time into the top corner. Magical.
21:32 , Malik Ouzia
71 mins: Already, Foden has had an impact, working it down the right and forcing Marquinhos to make a couple of near-post clearances.
Then, he lays back to De Bruyne on the edge of the box, who pulls his strike a couple of yards wide.
21:28 , Malik Ouzia
68 mins: Here comes that first City change - Phil Foden is on in place of Jack Grealish, who has endured a bit of a frustrating evening.
21:26 , Malik Ouzia
65 mins: What a chance!
The best one PSG have had to add to their lead. Hakimi flicks the ball inside and a terrific first-touch sends Neymar beyond Walker, who had gambled on him not being able to reach it.
The England right-back is so quick though and as Neymar delays he manages to get back and force him just wide enough that he can only find the sidenetting.
21:23 , Malik Ouzia
63 mins: It’ll stun you to hear that Neymar’s absolutely fine.
21:21 , Malik Ouzia
61 mins: Neymar is down in a heap clutching the back of his knee after a challenge from Rodri. It wasn’t even a foul but eventually City knock the ball out.
21:20 , Malik Ouzia
59 mins: Phil Foden, Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres have all been out warming up pretty much since the second half began so you’d have to think we’ll see at least one of them shortly.
21:18 , Malik Ouzia
57 mins: Messi lays off to Mbappe and continues his run, only to turn around stunned to see the Frenchman has let it roll straight under his foot and out for a throw.
21:15 , Malik Ouzia
54 mins: That little slide-rule pass is opening up PSG every time and City are getting the runners in behind to exploit it.
This time it’s De Bruyne and Donnarumma blocks his first-time effort with his legs.
21:14 , Malik Ouzia
53 mins: Jack Grealish is going to walk off in a minute. He’s completely blocked off by Verratti, a cynical challenge, and the referee waves play on. He’s not had a decision go his way tonight, the £100m man.
21:10 , Malik Ouzia
50 mins: Hakimi is hardly grateful for a lofty, airy pass pinged across his own penalty area towards the Moroccan by Kimpembe but he manages to draw a foul from Grealish to get out of trouble.
21:08 , Malik Ouzia
47 mins: First big chance of the half and it didn’t take long for City to create it. Again it’s the run of Sterling in behind and he’s well found by Cancelo’s clever reverse pass but he can only steer back wide of the far post.
KICK-OFF!
21:06 , Malik Ouzia
We are back underway...
21:05 , Malik Ouzia
The teams are back out in Paris. Let’s hope for more of the same.
21:02 , Malik Ouzia
This is a big second half coming up for City. They’ve dominated much of the ball and created more openings as the half has gone on. They should really be level. But can they find a way through while still managing to keep that front three relatively quiet?
But this was even more remarkable - how has he missed?
20:55 , Malik Ouzia
How did the ball not end up in the PSG net?! 🤯
Raheem Sterling's header hits the bar, and then a moment to forget for Bernardo Silva...#UCL pic.twitter.com/vdIvAU4uHs— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 28, 2021
They don’t come much more top corner than this...
20:53 , Malik Ouzia
When you've got Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe up front...
But Idrissa Gueye gets the big goal!
Emphatic finish 💥#UCL pic.twitter.com/i8JmTLzTV5— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 28, 2021
HT: PSG 1-0 Man City
20:50 , Malik Ouzia
That half has absolutely flown by. Cracking game.
20:46 , Malik Ouzia
45+1 mins: We’re playing four minutes of added time because of that Gueye incident.
Meanwhile, Neymar is back defending in his own box to deny Mahrez as the Algerian tries to bring it down on his chest.
20:44 , Malik Ouzia
43 mins: Chance!
De Bruyne bends a corner in to the far post and Dias has pulled away to meet it but he’s not got much of an angle to work with and his header is palmed behind by Donnarumma.
20:42 , Malik Ouzia
41 mins: It doesn’t look like there’ll be any further VAR action - I think that toe on the ball has probably saved De Bruyne.
It looked bad for Gueye for a moment as the referee calls the stretcher on but as soon as the medics are halfay across the pitch with it, the midfielder jumps back to his feet, exchanges a little hug with De Bruyne, and is okay to carry on.
20:41 , Malik Ouzia
40 mins: Ouch. The ball gets away from De Bruyne slightly and he lunges in, stretching as Gueye slides in to win it.
The Belgian does get a toe on the ball but his follow through then stands right on the top of the PSG man’s ankle and calf. It’s yellow for De Bruyne.
20:39 , Malik Ouzia
38 mins: Big chance!
Mbappe bends his run brilliantly to beat the offside trap and then pulls it back to to Herrera on the edge but the Spaniard’s first-time effort is palmed over the bar by Ederson.
From the corner, PSG take it short to Mbappe who weaves his magic and slides it across the face of goal but no one can get on the end of it.
20:37 , Malik Ouzia
36 mins: A bit of a concern for the home side here because Nuno Mendes is down clutching his calf and needs some treatement. There wasn’t any contact so you presume it’s a muscle problem.
He’s back on for now.
20:35 , Malik Ouzia
34 mins: City are just starting to find Sterling peeling off the shoulder of the centre-halves, into that awkward channel inside the full-back. A couple of times in quick succession the Englishman picks it up and gets to the byline but his deliveries aren’t accurate enough.
20:32 , Malik Ouzia
32 mins: Well hit, this. Grealish stands Hakimi up for the upmteenth time but just drops it off to Cancelo who strikes it first time but it’s too close to Donnarumma despite having plenty behind it.
20:31 , Malik Ouzia
30 mins: Laporte and Dias both want penalties as they’re being held by their markers at the resulting corner but the referee doesn’t see anything wrong in real-time and nor does VAR deem an intervention necessary.
20:30 , Malik Ouzia
29 mins: More City presure now. Kimpembe is caught on it by a combination of Sterling and Bernardo and eventually it’s a ricochet off Herrera that could have gone anywhere but it trickles wide for a corner.
Woodwork!
20:28 , Malik Ouzia
26 mins: How has this stayed out?!
Kevin de Bruyne delivers a wonderful ball into the middle off the outside of his boot for Sterling to crash a header against the bar. The rebound comes out to Bernardo, genuienly three yards out with the net gaping, and the Portuguese lifts it onto the bar for a second time.
Incredible miss.
20:24 , Malik Ouzia
24 mins: Here’s the first yellow card of the night and it’s arrived in pretty predictable fashion as Cancelo wipes out Mbappe, with the Frenchman in danger of running away on the break.
20:21 , Malik Ouzia
20 mins: City have responded well to the goal and in the last ten minutes PSG haven’t really managed to get out of their half. The pressure is building, though they’ve not created a chance of note yet.
Oof, they nearly have now though. Cancelo bends a magnificent, low pass in behind from deep and Bernardo is waiting to tuck it away until Mendes stretches to hoof it over his own bar.
20:19 , Malik Ouzia
18 mins: Jack Grealish is pretty furious as Verratti comes over and makes a clear foul on him in his attempt to nick possession but there’s nothing doing.
20:15 , Malik Ouzia
14 mins: With the score at 1-0 and not even a quarter-of-an-hour gone, Neymar’s just attempted his first rainbow flick of the night. Rodri gets to the ball ahead of him, though, and I suspect there might be a hefty challenge coming the Brazilian’s way next time someone gets chance.
20:12 , Malik Ouzia
12 mins: Unsurprisingly, the Parc des Princes is now bouncing even more than it was ahead of kick-off. Premier League watchers won’t remember Gueye for his goal threat during his time at Everton, but that’s actually his fourth goal of the season already for PSG.
GOAL! PSG 1-0 Man City | Idrissa Gueye 8'
20:09 , Malik Ouzia
Dream start for the hosts!
Hakimi and Mbappe combine down the right and the latter pulls back for Neymar, who completely miscues but it doesn’t matter because Gueye is coming in behind him to rifle a stunning effort into the top corner!
20:08 , Malik Ouzia
7 mins: A first warning for the home side as City go direct towards Sterling and the England man succeeds in winning the ball between the two centre-backs but his lay-off is a little tough for De Bruyne to control.
If he’d been able to get it under his spell, the return pass would’ve sent Sterling away.
20:05 , Malik Ouzia
4 mins: PSG are as we expected, with Mbappe through the middle, flanked by Neymar and Messi. It might just be the way the play has developed in these first few minutes, but it looks like Neymar is playing the deepest of the three though.
20:03 , Malik Ouzia
2 mins: Less than 100 seconds gone and Marco Verratti is having his first moan of the evening after being pulled up for a foul on Sterling.
KICK-OFF!
20:00 , Malik Ouzia
Showtime...
19:58 , Malik Ouzia
The teams are on their way out in the French capital. Neymar, Mbappe and Messi lined up together at the end of the PSG line as Marquinhos leads them out.
Should be special, this.
Ten minutes to go...
19:53 , Malik Ouzia
Not long now, and this feels like a proper Champions League night, even at this early stage in the competition.
Will PSG’s front-three click? Can they get to grips with Bernardo and De Bruyne in midfield?
19:39 , Malik Ouzia
I for one can’t wait to see how Jack Grealish perfoms tonight. He scored on his Champions League debut against Leipzig and with all the talk about the trio at the head of PSG’s attack at the other end of the field, how much would have love to upstage them?
Nothing seems to faze the lad.
Here are the visitors arriving a little earlier on...
19:26 , Malik Ouzia
LET'S GET TO IT! 👊
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klUGiM pic.twitter.com/P727EAde0U— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 28, 2021
Sterling, Mahrez start
19:04 , Malik Ouzia
Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez have been handed starts by Pep Guardiola as Manchester City face PSG in the Champions League tonight.
Both men missed out on the starting lineup as City beat Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday but return to the XI as the only two changes to the side that started at Stamford Bridge, with Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden dropping to the bench.
John Stones returned to the bench against Chelsea and finds himself there again as Aymeric Laporte partners Ruben Dias at centre-back.
Here he is...
18:57 , Malik Ouzia
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) September 28, 2021
PSG team news
18:47 , Malik Ouzia
PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes; Ander Herrera, Verratti, Gueye; Messi, Mbappé, Neymar.
Subs: Navas, Letellier, Paredes, Icardi, Danilo, Dagba, Wijnaldum, Kurzawa, Diallo, Draxler, Kehrer, Dina Ebimbe.
Man City team news
18:45 , Malik Ouzia
Man City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Grealish, Mahrez, Sterling
Subs: Steffen, Carson, Stones, Ake, Wilson-Esbrand, Fernandinho, Foden, McAtee, Torres, Jesus
Messi starts!
18:42 , Malik Ouzia
We’ll have full team news in the next few minutes but one big question has been answered - Lionel Messi starts for PSG.
Head-to-head record
18:31 , Malik Ouzia
PSG wins: 0
Draws: 2
Manchester City wins: 3
PSG team news
18:20 , Malik Ouzia
Lionel Messi has been included in the PSG squad for tonight’s clash after missing the team’s last two Ligue 1 games with a bruised knee.
The Argentine forward will feature in a squad that also includes Italy midfielder Marco Verratti, who is back after four games out with a knee injury.
Man City team news
18:02 , Malik Ouzia
With a huge trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s team selection is likely to have one eye on keeping players for the weekend.
John Stones was back on the City bench for the Chelsea win and he is in contention to play. Guardiola will decide whether Stones, Nathan Ake or Aymeric Laporte will partner Ruben Dias in centre of the City defence.
Riyad Mahrez, Ferran Torres, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho could all come into the team. Ilkay Gundogan and Aleks Zinchenko remain sidelined.
Standard Sport prediction
17:53 , Malik Ouzia
PSG know they cannot afford to cede further ground in the group to Manchester City, and will be keen to exploit a defence that showed vulnerability against RB Leipzig. However this is a Manchester City side with renewed confidence after a fine win over Chelsea. A high-scoring draw seems likely.
PSG 2-2 Manchester City
How to watch
17:44 , Malik Ouzia
TV channel: Tonight’s match will be televised on BT Sport 2, with coverage starting at 7pm.
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match via the BT Sport app or website.
Good evening!
17:34 , Malik Ouzia
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of PSG vs Man City from the Parc des Princes.
We’ll have all the team news and build-up ahead of an 8pm kick-off...