PSG beat Manchester City 4-2 in dramatic Champions League clash

Paris Saint-Germain further darkened the mood at the Etihad as Manchester City's first home match since a guilty verdict over breaches of Premier League financial rules ended in a 4-2 Champions League defeat on Wednesday.

The reigning European champions were explosive, scoring three goals in the opening 35 minutes through Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha.

City, however, fought back strongly in the second half as Erling Haaland scored twice, separated by a Maghnes Akliouche strike that briefly restored PSG's three-goal cushion.

The 10-time English champions face severe sanctions if they fail to overturn last month's ruling by an independent commission, which found the club guilty of more than 100 financial misconduct charges.

City shrugged off the uncertainty over their future to beat Liverpool 3-0 on Sunday and remain top of the Premier League, but PSG showed why they are leading contenders for a third consecutive title.

Former City manager Pep Guardiola returned to the Etihad for the first time since leaving in May, sitting behind under-pressure chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano in a show of unity.

City referenced the guilty verdict with a lengthy pre-match video recapping the club's historic celebration moments both before and after the Abu Dhabi-backed 2008 takeover that transformed their fortunes.

Behind one stand, fans held up a large banner reading: "I'm City till I die".

Yet the fighting spirit in the stands did not match events on the pitch as City were swept aside by the visitors in a stunning first 45 minutes.

Luis Enrique's decision to bench Khvicha Kvaratskhelia proved shrewd, as it meant Doue started on the left.

Gianluigi Donnarumma had reason to prove himself after the Italy goalkeeper was let go by the PSG coach just months after helping the club win their first Champions League title in 2025.

Instead, it became a night to forget for the towering Italian goalkeeper.

Donnarumma was beaten at his near post by Doue's shot from outside the box after a lightning counterattack opened the scoring.

The move leading to the second goal two minutes later was even more impressive, as Doue and Dembele exchanged a slick one-two before the latter headed in at the far post.

Achraf Hakimi hit the post before Vitinha fired in from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 to PSG.

Maresca responded with three changes at half-time and salvaged some pride, though the gap was too large to overturn.

Antoine Semenyo and Enzo Fernandez missed clear chances to pull one back even before Haaland headed in from Iliman Ndiaye's cross.

But City were dealt a surprise blow when Donnarumma got a hand to Akliouche's shot, only for the ball to loop up and spin back into the net.

Nuno Mendes produced an excellent goal-line clearance, and Haaland hit the crossbar before the Norwegian forward scored his second of the night.

Donnarumma saved a late Ferran Torres penalty, denying the French champions a fifth goal.

But in the showdown between two state-backed projects that have reshaped European football, Qatar-owned PSG are now the headline act as City confront a scandal that casts doubt over their trophy haul of the past 15 years.