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Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain jointly qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League on Wednesday, November 24, despite a 2-1 victory for the English club. The Parisians opened the scoring by Kylian Mbappé against the course of the game before the Citizens equalized by Raheem Sterling then took the advantage by Gabriel Jesus.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League 2021-2022. But the French football club cannot be satisfied with the way in which it secured its qualification. This Wednesday, the Parisians were indeed very inconstant on the ground of the champions of England.
PSG in difficulty
The first period of PSG, in particular, is disappointing. From the 5th minute, Presnel Kimpembe must clear with his head, in front of his goal line, a ball sent by midfielder Rodri. In the 18th minute, it was the turn of Achraf Hakimi, another defender, to replace the goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Following a beautiful collective movement in the Parisian area, winger Ryad Mahrez has indeed wound up a dangerous strike. At the half hour mark, the goalkeeper was saved by his left upright, which returned a shot from midfielder İlkay Gündoğan (33rd). In the process, Navas deflected a new shot from Mahrez (33rd) for a corner.
In defense and in midfield, Paris Saint-Germain is dominated. In attack, he is too imprecise and too predictable, except for a nice breakthrough from the side Nuno Mendes (27th). The striker Kylian Mbappé thus spoils a golden counter-attack by sending the ball well above the frame (43rd).
Manchester City upholds logic
But, as often this season in the Champions League, PSG opens the scoring against the course of the game. Thus, in the 50th minute, following a sequence between Neymar and Lionel Messi, the ball reaches on the right to Mbappé. The latter slips the ball between the legs of Ederson Moraes: 0-1.
A joy of visitors, however, short-lived. Because at the 63e minute, Raheem Sterling equalizes at close range, following a game of pool in the penalty area of PSG: 1-1. And at the 76e minute, Gabriel Jesus gives this match a score more in keeping with his physiognomy: 2-1.
A result which guarantees Manchester City first place in Group A and second in Paris Saint-Germain. RB Leipzig also won 5-0 on the lawn of FC Bruges. The two clubs will compete for the 3e place, synonymous with repechage in the Europa League, on the last day of the group stage (7-8 December).
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2021-2022: DAY 5 RESULTS
GROUP A
FC Bruges (Belgium) – RB Leipzig (Germany) 0-5
Manchester City (England) – Paris Saint-Germain (France) 2-1
GROUP B
Liverpool FC (England) – FC Porto (Portugal) 2-0
Atletico de Madrid (Spain) – AC Milan (Italy) 0-1
GROUP C
Besiktas (Turkey) – Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands) 1-2
Sporting Portugal (Portugal) – Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 3-1
GROUP D
Inter Milan (Italy) – Shakhtior Donetsk (Ukraine) 2-0
Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) – Real Madrid (Spain) 0-3.