Man City defeated PSG at Etihad despite going one goal down, but both teams qualified for rounds of 16 from Group A
European heavyweights, Liverpool, Madrid, Ajax, Inter, and Portuguese side Sporting CP, have all booked their places in the rounds of 16
By Kehinde Okeowo
Man City and Paris St. Germain (PSG) met at the Etihad Stadium in a Group A UEFA Champions League (UCL) game, which is expected to determine the group leader.
The home side dominated proceedings in the first half but were unable to make it count as the half ended without a goal.
City continued their dominance in the second half but it was the away side who scored first in the 50th minute through Kylian Mbappe to make it 1-0 to PSG.
The blue half of Manchester upped their game after going a goal down and deservedly got an equalizer after Gabriel Jesus’ pass found Raheem Sterling who taped it in to make it 1-1.
The home side went ahead for the first time in the game in the 77th minute when Gabriel Jesus scored from a pass from Bernardo Silva to give City a 2-1 lead.
ALSO READ: Ernesto Valverde contacted by Manchester United
Man City were missing Kelvin De Bryna, Phil Folden, and a few other players but the performance on the night, against a quality side that boasts an attacking trio of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar is commendable.
The result means Man City top the group with 12 points and can no longer be caught by PSG who is in second place on 8 points with just a game to play.
And with Club Brugge losing 5-0 to RB Leipzig at home, and both teams ending on 4 points each, CIty and PSG are through to the next stage with a game to spare.
Liverpool through, Porto, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid, to fight for second spot.
Meanwhile, in Group B, AC Milan beat Atletico Madrid 1-0, while Liverpool defeated Porto 2-0 in the other game.
Liverpool have now won 5 out of 5 and have qualified before the game against Porto, leaving the remaining 3 teams to fight for the remaining slot.
Ajax and Sporting CP through, Borussia Dortmund to play in Europa League.
In Group C, Ajax, who have also qualified, beat Besiktas, who are yet to pick up a point in the group 2-1. Sporting CP won against ten-man Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in the other game.
Sporting CP with 9 points will join Ajax in rounds of 16, with a far better goal difference and head-to-head advantage over Dortmund who are on 6 points.
Inter Milan and Real Madrid through to rounds of 16.
Inter Milan defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 and Real Madrid won 3-0 away at FC Sheriff in Group D, Inter will play Madrid in the final game to determine who top the group, but they have both qualified for rounds of 16.