PSG vs Man City LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight after Messi stunner

Lionel Messi scored his first Paris St Germain goal as the French club exacted some revenge for their loss to Manchester City in last season’s Champions League semi-finals.

The six-time world player of the year, who left Barcelona in August, rolled back the years with a superb finish as PSG claimed a 2-0 win in a compelling Group A clash at the Parc des Princes.

The sublime strike, which came after a powerful run and neat one-two with Kylian Mbappe, doubled PSG’s lead after former Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye opened the scoring early on.

City, last season’s runners-up, played a full part in a thrilling encounter but the closest they came to scoring was when Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva both hit the bar within the space of a few seconds in the first half.

Follow live reaction of PSG vs Manchester City in the Champions League below:

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PSG vs Man City

• PSG XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Mendes; Herrera, Gueye, Verratti; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar

• Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling, Grealish

• 8 min: Idrissa Gueye smashes PSG in front

• 74 min: Lionel Messi scores stunning second

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:27 , Jamie Braidwood

Pep Guardiola, speaking to BT Sport:

“It was a good performance. We did everything but we did not score. We defended well. They defended deep and of course the counter-attack is always dangerous with the quality that they have but we controlled them. Unfortunately we couldn’t score but that is football and I have nothing to say [about that]. My biggest compliments to the team. Sometimes we win sometimes we lose.

“In the second half we had many [moments]. Donnarumma made many saves. But the team was there, like at Stamford Bridge. The team is alive. We played to win but they don’t need much to score a goal they did that. The goal [from Messi] was fantastic.

“Now we are going to eat good tonight. We are going to drink a glass of wine. We are going to recover and we are going to prepare for the match on Sunday [against Liverpool].”

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:21 , Jamie Braidwood

All of a sudden, Manchester City’s bid to qualify out of a tough Group A has been made that bit more difficult. They will face Brugge in the back-to-back next.

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:16 , Jamie Braidwood

The BT Sport pundits are full of praise for PSG’s defensive shape under Mauricio Pochettino, which allowed the French side to leave their front-three high up the pitch.

Rio Ferdinand highlights the work down by Ander Herrera and Idrissa Gueye to support their respective full-backs in Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, who both had impressive games in the PSG defence.

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:13 , Jamie Braidwood

There was a sensational goal tonight from Messi tonight but the Argentine did not receive one of the two 9s awarded in our player ratings from PSG’s win over City.

You can find out who scored what below.

PSG vs Man City player ratings: Lionel Messi steals the show in Champions League win

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:09 , Jamie Braidwood

“He’s the man for the big occasions and he always seems to score against Pep Guardiola’s teams,” says Owen Hargreaves on BT Sport, before adding that it was an “excellent performance” from PSG - which is a bit of an exaggeration.

Here’s Miguel Delaney’s report from the Parc des Princes on a moment of magic that only Messi can provide.

Lionel Messi scores a goal only he can to sink Man City and announce himself at PSG

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:03 , Jamie Braidwood

It’s all to play for in Group A following PSG’s important win over the Premier League champions.

Here are five things we learned from the Parc des Princes, including Messi magic and City’s lack of a focal point.

PSG vs Man City: Five things we learned as Lionel Messi seals Champions League win

Full time: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

22:01 , Jamie Braidwood

In case you missed it, this was the moment Messi put the game beyond Manchester City with a trademark curling strike into the top corner.

Ironically, the forward had barely been involved in the previous 74 minutes.

FULL TIME: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:59 , Jamie Braidwood

In the other match in Group A, Club Brugge have secured another shock result - this team beating RB Leipzig 2-1 away from home!

It means the Group A table looks like this after two matches played.

PSG - 4 points

Brugge - 4 points

Man City - 3 points

RB Leipzig - 0 points

FULL TIME: PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:55 , Jamie Braidwood

A big win for Paris Saint-Germain over Manchester City in Group A.

Messi’s first goal for his new club sealed the win - and what a goal it was, the highlight of the night for the neutral.

City had plenty of chances, notably when Bernardo Silva hit the bar from two yards, but faded in the second half and struggled to break PSG down by the end.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:55 , Jamie Braidwood

90+3 mins: Another free kick for City after Mahrez is brought down in a similar position to his last effort.

De Bruyne again stands over this one but Mahrez goes for goal again, this time blasting the ball over the bar.

There will be no repeat of his free kick from last season’s semi-final, and no repeat of City’s big win here last season.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:53 , Jamie Braidwood

90 mins: Mahrez curls a free kick over the wall but Donnarumma has looked unbeatable tonight when facing shots and palms with ball to safety at his near post.

Messi was acting as the “draft-stopper” there which was an interesting sight.

There will be four minutes of added time and we’re into two of them.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:50 , Jamie Braidwood

86 mins: That’s better though. This time Mbappe and Neymar link up and the Frenchmen’s backheel finds Neymar at the byline, but Ederson gathers the cross.

At the other end City are starting to run into brick walls and dead ends in their search of a goal. It just hasn’t been their night.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:48 , Jamie Braidwood

85 mins: A bit selfish from Mbappe, there. PSG had a three-on-two with Messi in space on the right, but Mbappe attempted to beat Laporte and shoot and was blocked off.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:45 , Jamie Braidwood

82 mins: Gabriel Jesus is on for Sterling - who tried his best tonight but just couldn’t get the beating of Kimpembe and Marquinhos despite making some clever runs.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:40 , Jamie Braidwood

78 mins: That said - City will not quit on this game. Mahrez forces another stop out of Donnarumma with a low shot from the angle. The Italy goalkeeper just makes those saves look so simple.

PSG 2-0 Manchester City

21:39 , Jamie Braidwood

77 mins: That goal hadn’t really been coming but Manchester City have been really poor in this second half - they just haven’t put much pressure on PSG despite having a lot of the ball. Wijnaldum comes on for Verratti in PSG’s first change.

GOAL! PSG 2-0 Manchester City (MESSI 74’)

21:34 , Jamie Braidwood

ENCROYABLE

Amazing. Space was starting to open up for PSG and City have been punished on the break. Messi picks up the ball on the right and glides inside into the open space before playing a one-two with Mbappe on the edge. Mbappe’s flick lands perfectly in his path before Messi curls a stunner into the top corner to open his PSG account.

What a way to do it!

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:34 , Jamie Braidwood

72 mins: Verratti switches play with smart ball to Mendes but Neymar’s dribble is cut short by Laporte. PSG are starting to threaten on the counter.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:31 , Jamie Braidwood

68 mins: Close from De Bruyne, but the Belgian’s shot doesn’t test Donnarumma and is dragged just wide of the post.

City look like they are running out of ideas slightly.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:28 , Jamie Braidwood

66 mins: Grealish has a run inside the PSG that is eventually brought to an end by Verratti - but the flag was up.

And that’s Grealish’s last action as he is replaced by Foden, who comes out on the City left.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:25 , Jamie Braidwood

65 mins: Chance! Hakimi slips in Neymar who looks through on goal, but he can’t shrug off Walker and hits a weak shot into the side netting.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:24 , Jamie Braidwood

62 mins: This time Mahrez’s ball towards the back post evades everyone. Time for a City change, it seems, and Phil Foden is set to enter the fray.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:20 , Jamie Braidwood

58 mins: Cancelo is proving to be so dangerous for City when he comes inside onto his right foot. This time he plays an in-swinging ball that Donnarumma has to punch clear.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:15 , Jamie Braidwood

53 mins: Save! City continue to find joy down the sides of the PSG centre backs. This time Mahrez slips a nice reverse pass into De Bruyne but his shot is saved by the feet of Donnarumma.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:14 , Jamie Braidwood

52 mins: A lovely burst from Messi after taking the ball down on his chest opens a yard of space - but Verratti’s touch on the pass is loose and the move breaks down.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:12 , Jamie Braidwood

48 mins: City have started this second half well. Cancelo plays another clever pass in behind for Sterling before De Bruyne has a chance. Donnarumma then spills a De Bruyne cross but City didn’t have anyone waiting to capitalise.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:07 , Jamie Braidwood

46 mins: Early chance for City! Cancelo plays a beautiful reverse pass and finds the run of Sterling in the box, who drags his shot wide of the post under pressure from Kimpembe.

HALF TIME: PSG 1-0 Manchester City

21:05 , Jamie Braidwood

Lots of comparisons are being made between De Bruyne’s tackle on Gueye and the challenge that earned Aaron Wan-Bissaka a red card in Manchester United’s defeat at Young Boys two weeks’ ago.

De Bruyne certainly looks to be fortunate to still be on the pitch.

The teams are back out at the Parc des Princes - no changes for either side.

HALF TIME: PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:49 , Jamie Braidwood

The hosts lead thanks to Idrissa Gueye’s fine finish from close range but City have enjoyed plenty of chances and are somehow not level after Bernardo Silva’s extraordinary miss.

It’s been a good game so far and there’s plenty of space for City to attack into - they just haven’t been ruthless enough.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:46 , Jamie Braidwood

44 mins: Mahrez cuts inside and curls a ball towards the back post but Hakimi gets across brilliantly to head behind under pressure from Grealish.

PSG eventually scramble clear from the next corner after Mahrez had a chance to bring the ball down in the box.

There’s been a fair bit of last ditch defending from the French side so far.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:44 , Jamie Braidwood

43 mins: Save! City win a corner and De Bruyne swings a deep ball towards the back post. Dias finds himself some space but can’t direct his header back across goal, and Donnarumma makes the stop at his near post out for another corner.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:42 , Jamie Braidwood

39 mins: De Bruyne is shown a yellow card for a nasty looking challenge on Gueye, who is still down and receiving attention.

De Bruyne’s follow through came down on the midfielder’s calf. Looked like a sore one - and it’s perhaps fortunate for De Bruyne that stronger action hasn’t been taken.

Gueye’s up now though and is continuing.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:40 , Jamie Braidwood

37 mins: Double chance for PSG! Mbappe curls his run and beats the City offside trap before cutting the ball to the edge - Herrera lines up the shot but hits it straight at Ederson.

From the corner, PSG take it quickly and Mbappe dances through a couple of challenges before squaring the ball across the six-yard line - but this time Marquinhos can’t quite stretch far enough for the tap in!

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:38 , Jamie Braidwood

36 mins: Another move down the side of the PSG centre backs ends in De Bruyne firing a first-time shot at Donnarumma from a slight angle.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:35 , Jamie Braidwood

33 mins: That’s a chance. Cancelo plays in Sterling in the inside channel but the forward can’t find De Bruyne with the cut-back.

Bernardo then gets around the right but his low shot is gathered by Donnarumma before Sterling has another chance to play the ball into the box, this time looking for Mahrez at the back post, but he overhits his pass.

It is far too easy for City to attack and progress the ball at the moment and Guardiola’s side are not being clinical enough in the final third.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:32 , Jamie Braidwood

31 mins: City are having so much of the ball in advanced areas. Another promising attack ends in Cancelo striking a fierce shot from outside the box which Donnarumma gathers and holds.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:30 , Jamie Braidwood

28 mins: More chaos in the PSG box! Kimpembe gets caught as he tries to clear a ball and Sterling almost nipped it. Mahrez then took up the ball and PSG were forced to put it behind for a corner.

From the set-piece, Laporte is appealing for a penalty after being pulled to the ground by Gueye. Both players were at it but he has a case.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:27 , Jamie Braidwood

26 mins: How on earth has that stayed out?! City should be level. De Bruyne played a beautiful pass with the outside of his foot and found Sterling, who hit the bar with his header. Bernardo followed it in but somehow also hit the bar from just two yards out! It was an open goal! PSG scrambled it clear and are somehow still ahead.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:24 , Jamie Braidwood

23 mins: Frightening from Mbappe. PSG clear a City cross and it lands to the Frenchman on the edge. He beats Cancelo to the bouncing ball and bursts clear, before the full back brings him down and is shown a yellow card as a result.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:23 , Jamie Braidwood

21 mins: Verratti slips a ball inside to Messi, who is able to turn and look for Neymar on the outside. Walker does well to read the pass and cut it out.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:21 , Jamie Braidwood

20 mins: De Bruyne looked to switch the ball to Mahrez for a volley at goal, but Marquinhos got across to nick the ball away from him as he lined up the shot.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:21 , Jamie Braidwood

19 mins: City are getting the ball out wide and advancing it forward on plenty of occasions, with neither PSG full-back getting much support from their winger in front.

Cancelo’s ball towards Sterling takes a wicked bounce before it’s sliced over the top by Mendes for a City corner.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:19 , Jamie Braidwood

17 mins: City played it short and worked it over to the opposite flank to Grealish, who had two defenders waiting before he eventually fouled Verratti.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:18 , Jamie Braidwood

16 mins: Mahrez attempts to get round Mendes again but this time Gueye is there to back him up as PSG clear.

But City come back down the right as Mahrez wins a corner from Kimpembe.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:15 , Jamie Braidwood

13 mins: Neymar attempts a rainbow flick over Mahrez that doesn’t quite come off as he loses possession.

Mahrez then gets around the outside of Mendes and hangs a ball into the box, which PSG eventually clear after a less than convincing attempt from Donnarumma to deal with the ball.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:13 , Jamie Braidwood

12 min: Grealish takes down a switch from Dias and then looks to play a one-two with Bernardo, but his return pass is overhit and runs out for a goal kick.

PSG 1-0 Manchester City

20:12 , Jamie Braidwood

11 min: PSG come again through Messi and Hakimi, who finds Mbappe in the box. The striker is eventually crowded out but the French side look confident on the ball to begin with and that early goal should help even more.

GOAL! PSG 1-0 Manchester City (GUEYE 8’)

20:08 , Jamie Braidwood

Of all the attacking players on display, it’s Idrissa Gueye who opens the scoring! It’s a sloppy goal for City to concede. Mbappe got round the right to the byline and cut the ball back to Neymar on the six-yard line. Neymar scuffs his shot but it falls to Gueye, who buries the shot into the top corner from close range.

PSG 0-0 Manchester City

20:06 , Jamie Braidwood

5 min: PSG break up a City attack as Neymar springs forward from deep. He plays it inside to Messi, who is drifting across the frontline, but Laporte is able to block the next pass through to Mbappe, who was clear.

PSG 0-0 Manchester City

20:04 , Jamie Braidwood

3 min: PSG’s 19-year-old left back Nuno Mendes wins his first battle with Riyad Mahrez on the opposite flank, before Cancelo looks to play Grealish in down the left but is flagged offside.

PSG 0-0 Manchester City

20:02 , Jamie Braidwood

2 min: Verratti concedes a free-kick on the City left but De Bruyne’s ball into the box is headed away and PSG clear.

PSG 0-0 Manchester City

20:02 , Jamie Braidwood

1 min: Messi looks like he has started on the right with Neymar on the left. City enjoy 30 seconds or so on the ball before a long pass is gathered by Champions League debutant Donnarumma.

PSG 0-0 Manchester City

20:00 , Jamie Braidwood

And we’re off! Lionel Messi still looks strange in a kit that isn’t Barcelona or Argentina.

PSG vs Manchester City

19:59 , Jamie Braidwood

Spanish referee Carlos del Cerro Grande has the whistle tonight. Kick off is next!

PSG vs Manchester City

19:56 , Jamie Braidwood

The players are in the tunnel and the Parc des Princes looks bouncing ahead of kick-off - fans were of course missing from the semi-final between these sides last season.

Ruben Dias leads City out as the players emerge onto the pitch.

Just in time for THAT Champions League anthem.

PSG vs Manchester City

19:46 , Jamie Braidwood

Pep Guardiola, speaking to BT Sport ahead of tonight’s match:

[On facing PSG] “What a pleasure to be here. Every manager wants their team to reach the level [we had at Chelsea] but sometimes it’s not always possible and the opponent is better. But the intention is always to do our best.

[On making two changes and starting Sterling and Mahrez] “It’s the specific qualities I think we need today. I thought to maybe make more [changes] but for this type of game the players are not tired because they are so excited. The trip was comfortable and the city is magnificent, so there are no complaints. After we have five days until the game at Anfield.

[On his reunion with Lionel Messi] “I enjoyed him for years. With these players you are ready to suffer, these types of players can be unstoppable at any minute. They are too good to control - and not just him but Mbappe, Neymar, Verratti. We have an idea of the game we want to do and we will try.”

PSG vs Manchester City: Lionel Messi’s record against Pep Guardiola

19:38 , Jamie Braidwood

Messi has also scored six times in his four previous meetings with Pep Guardiola, his former manager at Barcelona.

Messi and Guardiola have split those four matches at two wins each and if the Argentine were to score tonight it would also be his first goal for PSG and under Mauricio Pochettino.

If you’re after some pre-match reading tonight, this piece from Miguel Delaney is a must-read on Messi’s relationship with Guardiola and the unique challenges of managing the forward that now face Pochettino.

Messi, Pochettino and the precarious power balance at PSG

PSG vs Manchester City: Lionel Messi’s record against English sides

19:25 , Jamie Braidwood

Lionel Messi lines up against English opposition in the Champions League tonight for the first time since May 2019.

That evening ended in arguable one of the worst defeats of his distinguished career, as Liverpool overturned a first-leg defeat to win 4-0 at Anfield in the semi-finals.

But Messi has enjoyed plenty of better nights against Premier League opposition - scoring a remarkable 26 goals against English sides in his career.

The Argentine has faced City six times, scoring six goals and winning five of those encounters.

PSG vs Manchester City

19:17 , Jamie Braidwood

These two sides played out two enthralling matches in last season’s semi-finals.

City won both matches 2-1, but the first leg at the Parc des Princes was dominated by the hosts in the first half, as Pochettino’s side played some of their best football they’ve ever produced in the competition.

But Guardiola’s men flipped the script with an inspired second-half performance and the comeback was complete after Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick went straight through a disorganised PSG wall.

PSG vs Manchester City

19:06 , Jamie Braidwood

Messi slots back into a PSG line-up that has won their past two fixtures in his absence, a 2-1 win over Metz and a 2-0 win against Montpellier.

Things weren’t quite that straight-forward, however, with PSG relying on a 95th minute from Hakimi to beat Metz, while the victory over Montpellier was overshadowed by reports of a row between Mbappe and Neymar.

The France international appeared to be frustrated that his Brazilian teammate had not passed the ball to him when in promising positions, with his anger rising after Neymar then did pass, but to Julian Draxler, for their second goal.

It’s been quite the week for Mauricio Pochettino as he attempted to downplay any disagreement between the two forwards.

Mauricio Pochettino responds to Kylian Mbappe-Neymar rift reports

PSG vs Manchester City team news

18:55 , Jamie Braidwood

Lots of interesting bits and pieces to dissect from the starting line-ups, with Lionel Messi starting after missing PSG’s last two matches with a knee injury the headline.

Messi lines up alongside Neymar and Mbappe in a star-studded attack, although the trio have yet to click in their first three matches together for Pochettino’s side.

Donnarumma makes just his third start for PSG since joining from AC Milan in the summer, while Italy teammate Marco Verratti starts after also overcoming an injury problem.

Raheem Sterling gets just his fourth start of the season so far and it’s a big night for him - could we see the England forward play as a 9 at the Parc des Princes?

Lionel Messi starts for PSG against Man City: Champions League line-ups and team news

Manchester City team

18:47 , Jamie Braidwood

Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Laporte, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Sterling, Grealish

That’s a really strong team from Pep Guardiola - just two changes from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea with Sterling and Mahrez in for Foden and Jesus.

PSG team

18:41 , Lawrence Ostlere

PSG line-up: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Nuno Mendes; Herrera, Gueye, Verratti; Messi, Mbappe, Neymar.

Messi starts!

Guardiola: I don’t know how to stop PSG

18:30 , Lawrence Ostlere

Pep Guardiola was keen to play the underdog card this week in this meeting of financial muscle. “What should we do? I don’t know,” he said of City’s challenge to shut down PSG’s qualities. “With this amount of quality I don’t know how to stop them, honestly. They’re so good.

“This amount of talent together - to control it is so difficult. We will try to defend well when we don’t have the ball and make them run when we have the ball. They’re exceptional players. All of them are so good individually. They can combine and connect with each other. We’re looking forward to playing the game.”

PSG vs Man City: Live Champions League coverage

15:40 , Karl Matchett

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City on the Independent.

The storylines to watch for in this encounter are too numerous to mention; from Pep against Poch, to Messi’s search for his first PSG goal, to both of these clubs desperate to end their wait for European silverware after petrodollars fuelled a rise to the top of the game. There are, however, just three points and no trophies on offer tonight, but after a draw against Club Brugge it’s arguable that PSG don’t have too much wiggle room to lose further ground - especially on home soil.

City, meanwhile, may need to juggle the line-up somewhat due to returning faces and a crunch Premier League clash at the weekend against leaders Liverpool - it’s a succession of big matches for Guardiola and Co right now and his choices this week may shape the course of their season between now and the new year.