Manchester City’s Champions League hopes were hanging by a thread tonight after Paris Saint-Germain succumbed to an incredible comeback.

After conceding goals to Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland early in the second half, the situation looked bleak for a PSG side who started the evening outside the playoff spots in the revised table.

But substitutes Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barkola inspired a stirring response with both men on target before Joao Neves struck a late third to send Parc des Princes wild. There was still time for Goncalo Ramos to add a fourth to rub salt into City’s wounds.

The win lifted PSG to 22nd and it is City who are now in danger of missing out. Pep Guardiola’s men are 25th, two points behind Stuttgart with their final match against Club Brugge next week now a must-win.

Man City slipped into the Champions League elimination zone after losing to PSG 📉 pic.twitter.com/sgLURkV5rB

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Great start for PSG

Perhaps realizing the gravity of their situation, PSG made the better start, with Ederson saving from a desire duel five minutes in before Neves lashed a header over the bar from close range.

Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Kevin De Bruyne at the other end but it was a rare forward for City, who were largely on the back foot and indebted to defender Josco Guardiola to keep the scores level after 26 minutes.

The visitors failed to clear a corner and, from the ensuing scramble, Fabian Ruiz fired in a shot that forced Croatia defender Guardiola to kneel the ball to safety from his own goal line.

Although they were playing mostly on the break, it almost paid dividends for the English champions when Phil Foden set up Savinho on goal, albeit from a tight angle, but the Brazilian’s shot was well blocked by Donnarumma.

After surviving that scare, PSG nearly went ahead a minute before half-time. Achraf Hakimi was on the end of a free-flowing move, slotting well past Ederson, only for Nuno Mendes to score after he was adjudged to be slightly offside in the build-up.

Grealish makes an impact

Guardiola threw on Grealish and Rico Luiz for Ruben Dias and Savinho at the break and the double switch paid immediate dividends.

Manuel Akanji burst down the right and picked up a cross for Bernardo Silva and although the Portuguese’s effort was saved by Donnarumma, the ball fell to Grealish and he fired high into the net.

Jack Grealish puts Man City ahead within minutes of coming onto the pitch 🤩

It’s his first goal in the Champions League this season 💪

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– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025

City fans had barely stopped celebrating in the Parisian rain when Haaland re-introduced Grealish three minutes later to make it 2-0.

After latching on to Matthews Nunes’ pass, the England winger cut in from the left and his cross was deflected into the path of Haaland by Vitinha who made no mistake from close range.

The comeback begins

PSG’s Champions League dream was quickly slipping away but they showed tremendous courage to find a way back.

Dembele, who was also introduced at the break, made a comeback, latching on to Barkola’s cross to beat Ederson and it was 2-2 on the hour mark, before Duno’s shot bounced off the bar into the path of Barkola and he scuffled. Volley into the net by the left post.

Ousmane Dembele earns a comeback for PSG 👀

There have been three goals in the last six minutes between the two sides 🤯

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PSG were in complete command and City were stunned.

Barkola curled an acrobatic effort over the bar, Dembele fired high and wide while the former Barcelona winger should have done better before beating Ederson.

Neves finds the third

It seemed only a matter of time before the pressure told and PSG got a deserved goal on 12 minutes, Neves diving to head home at the far post with no City defenders close.

PSG bounce back against Man City 🤯

After going 2-0 down, Joao Neves fired home to give PSG the lead 🤩

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– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025

The excellent Dembele had another goal ruled out for offside and then saved a penalty from Ederson as PSG went for the jugular.

Substitute Ramos saw an effort saved from close range by Ederson but the Brazil international could do nothing when another Ramos effort with the last kick of the game was disallowed after a lengthy VAR check.