A night of many firsts it was on Tuesday, when Paris Saint Germain welcomed English Champions, Manchester City to the Parc des Princes in their second group encounter.
A repeat of one of last season's semifinal clashes saw, this time around, PSG coming out tops courtesy of goals from Idrissa Gana Gueye and Lionel Messi, who was scoring his first goal for the capital cub since his arrival in the summer.
It was arguably the most expensive match in football history as both teams boast of players worth a combined almost €2 billion, with both clubs being owned by Abu Dhabi oil magnates, hence, the Oil-Classico tag by football netizens.
Manchester City took no time to settle and immediately put their foot on the gas, but couldn't have anything to show for much possession in the early exchanges.
PSG made the first hit in the 8th, when Gana Gueye opened the scoring from inside the box. Kylian Mbappe raced unto a fine pass into space from Achraf Hakimi, before sending a cross into the City box. The ball was initially missed by Neymar, but found its was to Gueye, who needed just one touch before firing into the top corner, leaving Ederson Moraes with no chance.
Pep Guardiola would still be wondering how his team did not put the ball in the back of the net in the 26th minute. Kevin de Bruyne sent a perfect cross into the 18-yard box, which was well met by a Raheem Sterling header, but came off the post and deflected off Gianluigi Donnarumma, before falling to Bernando Silva from two yards out, but the Portugal international could only manage to hit the underside of the crossbar.
6 minutes later, it was the turn of Joao Cancelo to have a go at the PSG defence. His shot from range was well saved by Donnarumma, who had earlier before the game being reportedly about his game time at the club, since his bosman move from AC Milan in the summer.
Two double chances were squandered by the home side in the 38th minute. First, Nuno Mendes released Mbappe on the left. The Frenchman made a cutback to Ander Herrera on the edge of the box, who hit a first time shot to force Donnarumma into a save for a corner. He could have done better by hitting the ball low, making it harder for the goalkeeper to get down.
The resulting corner was taken quickly and Mbappe dribbled his way into the box on the left side of attack, before sending the ball across the face of goal, but Maruqinhos got there seconds later.
Just before half time, City were presented with another opportunity to level things. A corner kick was out into the box by De Bruyne and Ruben Dias met it with a clean header at the far post, only for Donnarumma to get down and parry away, keeping his team's lead intact into the break.
De Bruyne picked up from where he left before the interval as he was released into space by Riyad Mahrez, before hitting a low shot that was denied by the legs of Donnarumma.
Just before Mahrez had his effort deflected and safe into the hands of Donnarumma, Neymar also missed the target with shot after being put off by Kyle Walker.
It was an unforgettable moment in the 74th minute as PSG doubled their lead and more importantly, coming from the boots of Lionel Messi who had waited so long for his first goal in the blue shirt.
A breakaway counterattack from PSG opened the City defence, allowing Messi to run at them, before playing a sleek one-two with Mbappe. The Argentine hit the return ball first time into the top right corner to get the monkey off his back and open his record in France.
City kept on pressing, looking for at least a consolation goal, which failed to come.
Donnarumma was at the end of every ball sent towards goal, saving twice again from Mahrez in the closing minutes to ensure PSG kept their first clean sheet and win against City in six meetings.
**Concluding Thoughts**
PSG may have won the tie, but it was City who played more like a settled team. The PSG attack is still trying to find a balance playing the three superstars, Neymar, Mbappe and Messi.
Individually, no doubt they are all outstanding players, however, winning the championship would require that they find synergy and a way to work together. Their individual brilliance can only carry them so far.
Once again, questions about Pep Guardiola doing the overthinking, unsettling the balance in his team by not playing a recognized striker in Gabriel Jesus, who although when played, functions mostly on the right side of attack, would still have made a little different than having Sterling play the false 9 role.
City need to be careful, as much as PSG, because Club Brugge have also been putting up performances, else, either of them might be the surprise exit from the group.
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