UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City Player Ratings as Lionel Messi scores his first PSG goal
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Goals from Idrissa Gueye and Lionel Messi were enough as Paris Saint-Germain registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Manchester City on Matchday two of the UEFA Champions League in Group A. The Parisians go top of the group as the Cityzens are placed third.
Let us have a look at how the two teams performed:
Paris Saint-Germain
Gianluigi Donnnarumma (GK) (8/10): Donnarumma made some key saves for Paris Saint-Germain. The Italian goalkeeper was tested throughouth the 90 minutes and made a standout performance.
Nuno Mendes (8/10): Nuno Mendes made some darting runs down the right and was highly impressive in atttack for Paris Saint-Germain.
Presnel Kimpembe (8/10): Presnel Kimpembe was a rock at the back for Paris Saint-Germain and never allowed much space for Manchester City.
Marquinhos (8/10): Marquinhos was the leader of defence for Paris Saint-Germain. His aerial presence was crucial in keeping Manchester City in check.
Achraf Hakimi (8/10): Hakimi was deployed on the right wing. He provided support down the wings and was very resolute in coming back behind and defending.
Marco Verratti (7/10): Verrati was found slow at times due to lack of fitness. He made some key passes but was never managing to win the sprints versus his marker.
Idrissa Gueye (9/10): Idrissa Gueye was an absolute midfield lynchpin for Paris Saint-Germain. He scored the opening goal with a brilliant finish at the top right corner. Gueye played the role of a defensive midfielder and made some key interceptions for his side. He also was instrumental in attack in the entire game.
Ander Herrera (8/10): Herrera had some snap shots at goal. He was a constant danger for the Manchester City wingers.
Neymar (8/10): Neymar showed his trickery and on-the-ball for Paris Saint-Germain. He miss hit one of his shots in the first half which set up Gueye for the first goal and set up Messi with a back heel just outside the Manchester City box for Paris Saint-Germain’s second goal of the game.
Kylian Mbappe (8/10): Mbappe made some quick runs down the wings and was the reason behind Paris Saint-Germain’s first goal. He made some dangerous looking low crosses which kept Manchester City in check.
Lionel Messi (9/10): Lionel Messi had a slow start to the game but grew into the fixture eventually as he scored his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain. It was a typical Messi finish from outside the Manchester City box after Neymar set him up with a back heel.
Substitutes
Georginio Wijnaldum (7/10):
Danilo Pereira (N/A):
Manchester City
Ederson (GK) (7/10): Ederson conceded two goals on the night and was rather shaky between the sticks.
Kyle Walker (7/10): Kyle Walker was caught out on possession on several occassions and was struggling to help his team out in attack.
Ruben Dias (7/10): Dias was also slow to combat the pace of the Paris Saint-Germain strikers. He was useful in aerial balls but not on counter attacking moves from the home side.
Aymeric Laporte (/710): Laporte partnered Dias in the midfield. The central defender had a better game than his partner, Dias but was not helpful in set piece situations.
Joao Cancelo (7/10): Cancelo was used high up in the pitch and in a very attacking role. He went for some hopeful shots from distance but never managed to work the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper.
Bernardo Silva (6/10): Bernardo Silva made some key passes in the game but rarely managed to split apart the opposition defence.
Rodri (7/10): Rodri was deployed in central midfielded and anchored the Manchester City strikers. He combined well with the forwards upfront to create numerous openings to score.
Kevin de Bruyne (7/10): Kevin de Bruyne constantly tested the goalkeeper with his long range attempts and diagonal runs but to not much of an use.
Riyad Mahrez (7/10): Mahrez’s crosses from the left caused problems for Paris Saint-Germain. His pace and dynamism also was a source of worry for Pochhetino’s men.
Jack Grealish (6/10): Jack Grealish had a forgettable night in Paris. His crosses were wayward and he appeared slow in his runs.
Raheem Sterling (6/10): Sterling was mostly isolated upfront and did not get much of a chance to find the net.
Substitutes
Gabriel Jesus (N/A):
Phil Foden (7/10): Phil Foden made some decent runs to stretch the home side at the back but was not effective enough.
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Aditi Srinivas
(657 Articles Published)