Paris Saint-Germain survived Manchester City’s second-half fightback to stay perfect in Europe, while Enzo Maresca suffered his first defeat as City manager.
PSG beat City 4-2 to maintain their perfect Champions League start, but Luis Enrique acknowledged their good fortune. The Paris Saint-Germain coach said Manchester City’s second-half chances could have turned victory into defeat.
The European champions built a commanding first-half lead at the Etihad Stadium before facing a fierce response. However, Erling Haaland’s two goals could not prevent City’s first defeat of the season.
The result sent PSG top of the Champions League table after two matches, while City dropped to 17th.
PSG beat City after dominant first half
Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha scored as the visitors surged into a 3-0 lead before half-time. PSG controlled the opening period, leaving Enzo Maresca’s side with a substantial deficit to overcome.
City responded strongly after the break, with Haaland scoring twice to give the hosts hope. They also struck the woodwork twice, while Nuno Mendes produced a crucial clearance on the goalline.
Maghnes Akliouche briefly restored PSG’s three-goal advantage during the second half. However, Ferran Torres missed a late penalty for the visitors, who finished with four goals despite that wasted opportunity.
Luis Enrique praises City’s response
Despite the victory, Luis Enrique acknowledged that City’s chances made the outcome far less comfortable than PSG’s first-half display suggested. He said his team could have lost had the hosts converted the opportunities they created.
The PSG manager also praised City’s style of play and welcomed the challenge of such an open contest. His side, he explained, aims to keep attacking rather than settle after scoring once or twice.
Even so, he stressed that PSG benefited from luck because they could have conceded further goals after the interval. His assessment reflected the pressure City applied despite their poor start.
Maresca takes lessons from first defeat
Meanwhile, the loss ended Maresca’s eight-match winning start in all competitions since replacing Pep Guardiola as City manager. Guardiola returned to the Etihad for the match after winning 20 trophies during his 10-year spell in charge.
Maresca said the encounter offered several lessons, particularly about continuing to compete after conceding goals in quick succession. He described PSG as Europe’s best team but emphasised the need for his players to keep going.
The City manager also said he continued to learn from his squad three months after arriving. Despite the setback, he remained positive about the team following their spirited second-half recovery.
