Manchester City 2-0 PSG (4-1 agg), result, goals, summary: Champions League

Verratti furious at referee's response

Pep Guardiola post-match: "I'm incredibly proud. My first thought is for the players that didn't play today. We have two or three weeks now to prepare for the final. They [PSG] put a lot of players in the middle and we struggled to press in the first half. The second half was fantastic, the way we played. Now it's time to celebrate it. We were so composed. People think it's easy to get to the Champions League final!"

UEFA Champions League ticket news!

In preparation for the UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul on Saturday 29th May, Man City will enter discussions with UEFA and other stakeholders regarding ticketing and travel arrangements.

Whilst details relating to international leisure travel have not been confirmed by the UK Government at this time, the clubs expects that guidance will be published in Step 3 of the roadmap, which is due to come into effect on 17th May.

Go to mancity.com for more!

City break consecutive winning record

Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain means they have set a new record for the longest winning run by an English side in Europe’s elite club competition.

City have now won seven matches in succession, moving ahead of Manchester United (1965-66), Leeds United (1969-70) and Arsenal (2005) who all managed six in the European Cup/Champions League.

Ruben Dias MOTM

Riyad Mahrez post-match: “It was a very good game. We didn’t start good again. We didn’t have a very good first half but we scored the goal.

"In the second half we played very good and could have scored more. They lost their nerves and started kicking us. After the red card it was more comfortable for us. We were good in the counter, and that’s how the two goals were. It is something we work on all the time, and today it worked good.

"Everyone had to contribute defensively, and that’s what we did. We didn’t concede much, and now we’re in the final. We have a game on Saturday we have to win to be champions, and then we can concentrate on the final. Ah, finally!” (BT)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

How many Champions League finals has Pep Guardiola reached as coach?

It was always going to be difficult for Pep Guardiola to top his impressive 14 titles in his time as manager of FC Barcelona. From his tenure at Camp Nou in 2008, the Catalan coach secured Champions League glory twice with Manchester United the beaten finalists on both occasions.

Two UCL finals, two wins

A 2009 final in Rome against the English side was the Santpedor's first taste of Champions League glory with goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi securing the trophy for Barça.

With City looking now a solid bet to win the 2020/21 Premier League title, this season presents an ideal opportunity for the club to focus on lifting the elusive trophy at the Istanbul final in May. For the club, and Guardiola himself, it now feels as though it is the missing element to his legacy.

Full story

Champions League 2020/21 final: 

Manchester City vs Chelsea or Real Madrid (May 29)

City continue unbeaten record in Champions League

City remain unbeaten in this year’s competition. 

P12, W11, D1, L0. 

Ander Herrera post-match: "We were the better side for 70 minutes. We tried it all. We attacked, we tried to attack. We are going to leave here with our heads held high." (RMC)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

How many Champions League finals have Man City played in?

It was a fascinating semi-final but Manchester City came out on top over the two legs. The first match in Paris was the clichéd game of two halves, the home side dominating early before a flip later on, and then at the Etihad the Premier League champions-elect got the job done in style, despite the visitors having their share of chances.

Pep Guardiola is into his third UCL final - having won the other two - but Manchester City?

Read the full story

Zinchenko is in tears - this means a lot to these City players. 

City are deserved winners on the night and will take on the winners of Chelsea and Real Madrid in this year's final in Istanbul. 

Manchester City head for their first ever Champions League final!

FT: Manchester City 2-0 PSG (Aggregate 4-1)

Neymar sends his free-kick over the bar. That sums up his and PSG's night. 

Danilo is the next to be booked for PSG. This is embarrassing from the PSG players. The game is over and they've totally lost the plot, diving into needless tackles. 

Guardiola's side has been a class above over both legs and totally deserve the win. 

Kimpembe picks up a yellow for an awful challenge on Jesus. Luckily for Jesus, he jumps and misses the full wrath of the challenge. 

City have decided to take off players on yellow cards, now that they have their place in this year's finall. Guardiola hooks De Bruyne, on a yellow, and Silva. 

City have scored two goals without a striker and now decide to bring on the best striker in the club's history - Kun Aguero. 

City change 

ON Aguero 

OFF Foden 

PSG change

OFF Diallo

ON Bakker

Double change for Man City

OFF De Bruyne & Silva

ON Sterling & Jesus

There's no stopping City. Kimpembe blocks Silva's path into the box. Corner!

FODEN AGAIN!

This time on his right foot and closer to Navas. Navas dives to his right to collect the effort from Foden. 

Foden swivels and drives for goal, working an angle onto his stronger left before letting fly from the edge of the box. The shot smacks the outside of Navas' left-hand post. It was almost 3!

We need to wax lyrical about Foden too. Born in 2000! Frightening

FODEN HITS THE POST

PSG changes

ON Dagba & Danilo 

OFF Paredes & Florenzi

Marquinhos blocks Mahrez from scoring his hat-trick - Mahrez is just class - arguably one of the best attacking players in the world right now. Three goals over the two semi-final legs. Super player and a joy to watch. 

The French side are starting to lose their heads now. Verratti is booked for fouling Foden. 

That is truly disgraceful from Di Maria. The ball is out of play. He goes to fetch it for a throw-in. Fernandinho is in his way and he stamps on his foot. Straight red and fully deserved. 

RED CARD FOR DI MARIA

Still no sign of Mbappé - he's obviously not fit for the occasion. We all want to see the biggest stars play on the biggest occasions...

Dias has been outstanding once again tonight. One of Pep's best signings for the club. Not much goes past the Portuguese defender. 

City lead 4-1 on aggregate. PSG need three goals without reply. 

Manchester City 2-0 PSG

Fantastic break from City, Foden picks out Mahrez at the back post to score his and City's second of the night. 

City move one step closer to Istanbul

PSG changes

OFF Herrera & Icardi

ON Draxler & Kean

STONES CLEARS!

Super run from Neymar, who then lays it off to Di Maria. The Argentine crosses first time. Stones defends well.  

Moise Kean is warming up for PSG.

PSG are starting to push more bodies forward, leaving City with extra opportunities on the break.

Silva, Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Foden...my point is, they are all wonderful footballers and there's always one of them ready to receive the ball. Creating space is their thing. 

Coming up to the hour-mark, it's 1-0 to Manchester City. They lead 3-1 on aggregate. PSG need two goals to take this to extra-time. 

The City defence celebrate that defending like a goal. 

Zinchenko shows Neymar wide, defends expertly against the Brazilian, gets his block in. Corner to PSG. 

It's offside! But the former Madrid keeper did so well to deny Stockport's Iniesta. 

NAVAS SAVES FROM FODEN!

The ground staff have done an excellent job on the pitch at half-time. 

As the rail falls, the football slows. City will want it this way. 

The resulting free-kick comes to nothing. With the strikerless system that Pep uses it's often difficult to go long with those free-kicks. 

Diallo obstructs Mahrez. Free-kick to City just inside PSG's half. 

Here comes the rain! And snow in May...

Neither side made any changes at the break. 

City get us underway!

We're all waiting on Neymar!

Or is Mbappé just on the bench so he can watch the game from a better position?

The big question is: will we see Kylian Mbappé in the second half?

The players are making their way back out for the second half. 

Pochettino's PSG need two goals to take the tie into extra time.

Manchester City are 45 minutes away from their first-ever European Cup/Champions League final! 

PSG started well, with a strong opening 20 minutes. City's goal gave the home side more confidence, and as a result they grew into the game. Last year's finalists PSG now have it all to do. City lead 3-1 on aggregate.  

HT: Man City 1-0 PSG

SILVA SHOOTS!

The Portuguese curls one into the far top corner from the right hand side of the box, it takes a deflection. Corner City.

Gundogan has been excellent so far for City. Neymar is very deep, making it easier for Cify to defend PSG's biggest threat. 

There will be three minutes of added-on time. 

PSG take the corner, City clear. Within 10 seconds they're up the other end looking for a second. PSG manage to get rid of Mahrez's cross. 

Herrera crosses, Dias clears. Corner to PSG just before the break. 

Icardi hasn't offered a whole lot up front for PSG. Failure to make runs off Neymar and Di Maria does make you question whether he'll appear in the second half or not. Pochettino said beforehand that he started Icardi ahead of Kean because of experience. 

Neymar is taken out by Silva and is not at all happy with the challenge from behind. That's twice City have targeted Neymar, not surprised he's fuming with that one. 

HERRERA STRIKES!

The Spaniard's effort flies over the bar. Ederson had that one covered!

Both Pep and Poch are 'disciples' of Marcelo Bielsa. Guardiola once spent a whole day on a ranch in Argentina with 'El Loco' talking everything from football to cinema. Bielsa discovered Poch as a 12-year-old living in a small farming village called Murphy in Argentina. 

In 19 matches between them, Guardiola has defeated Pochettino 11 times. 

Diallo crosses for PSG, Stones clears. Alongside him is Dias, both have been outstanding together recently, keeping Mbappé, Kane and Haaland quiet over the past month. Dias looks the real deal.

As we approach the half-hour mark, it remains 1-0 to the home side. De Bruyne drops the shoulder, finds half a yard, before burying his effort high and wide. 

City corner! Kimpembe clears it. 

Mauricio Pochettino takes a seat in the dugout and behind him is a freezing cold Kylian Mbappé - welcome to Manchester!

City are having a nice spell of possession inside PSG's half now. City aren't protecting their lead, they just love having the ball. 

Ander Herrera picks up the first yellow card of the game. The former Manchester United player is livid. There wasn't much in the challenge so from what I can gather he has been punished for protesting. 

Stats so far!

Kimpembe is down. The centre-back is now back on his feet. Pochettino can breathe a little easier!

DI MARIA!! He can't believe he's missed it. The Argentine robs Bernardo Silva in the snow, and with Ederson off his line from the goalkick, Di Maria curls a 20-yard effort just wide of an almost open goal. 

It's end to end stuff at the Etihad, both teams really going for it. Foden has a go at Florenzi. Getting a bit spicy too!

The Brazilian defender goes so close to equalising for PSG, his close range header comes back off the bar. 1-0 to City. 

MARQUINHOS HITS THE BAR!

PSG need a quick response. Neymar's free-kick hits the City wall. Corner!

Gundogan takes out Neymar, clear foul. Free-kick to PSG in perfect range, 25 yards from goal.

Mahrez's early strike moves City closer to Istanbul. PSG will argue that there's a long, long way to go and with a certain Mbappé to come in, you can't rule them out, yet. 

Manchester City 1-0 PSG (Agg 3-1)

Ederson in his sweeper role plays a 60-yard pass to Zinchenko, who finds De Bruyne on the edge of the box. KDB hits it, takes a deflection and lands in Mahrez's path. The Algerian tucks it away from a tight angle, low and hard to put City in front. 

The referee has checked the VAR and has ruled out the penalty. Lively start in Manchester! 0-0

It's never a penalty! We're going to VAR. The ball strikes Zinchenko on the shoulder. 

PENALTY TO PSG!

Di Maria makes space for a shot, it's blocked by Silva in the box. Good defending. 

In a strikerless system used by Pep, Bernardo Silva is the most central of the 'front three'.

Man City are starting out with a very high press, hardly giving the Ligue 1 side any chance to play out from the back. 

Fernandinho goes in hard and catches Di Maria. Free-kick to PSG inside their own half. 

The pitch has collected plenty of snow.

I think they could have opted for an orange ball tonight!

PSG get us underway!

We're predicting another narrow City win tonight. 

And for the Champions League music - goosebumps every time!

Both sides make their way out onto a snowy pitch at the Etihad! 

The players are lining up in the tunnel ahead of one of the biggest games in their careers. 

Kick-off in Manchester is just five minutes away!

Guardiola on PSG forwards

"Icardi moves really well in the box, the set pieces and is strong in the air. 

"He has pace but not Mbappe’s unique rhythm. 

"He can score - all players in this level are good."

We're just over 15 minutes away from kick-off at the Etihad stadium in Manchester. 

Man City XI

Pep Guardiola has named the following starting eleven for tonight's second leg clash. 

PSG starting XI vs City

The big news tonight is that there's no Kylian Mbappé in Pochettino's starting XI.

Neymar in Champions League 2020/21

The Brazilian forward has bagged six goals in the current campaign. He'll be hoping he can add to that tally tonight and guide the Parisiens to another final. 

Guardiola vs Pochettino head to head

Pep comes out on top versus Poch with 11 wins from 19 encounters. Stat via SofaScore

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Man City - PSG: injured and suspended players for the Champions League semi-final

Manchester City: City have a virtually clean bill of health for this crucial clash - one that their manager suggested was bigger than the final - and only Eric Garcia misses out. 

PSG: Mbappé starts from the bench. Left-back Juan Bernat and reserve goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier are unavailable to Pochettino due to injury, while Idrissa Gueye is suspended for this game (and potentially the final) due to his red card last week.

Neymar says new PSG deal "almost settled"

Neymar reiterated that "everything is almost settled" with regards to his contract renewal at Paris Saint-Germain.

The Brazil superstar moved to the Parc des Princes for an eye-watering €220million fee from Barcelona in 2017, a sum that comfortably smashed the world transfer record.

However, for long periods Neymar was linked with a move back to LaLiga either with Barca or Clasico rivals Real Madrid, amid suggestions he was struggling to settle in the French capital.

Injury woes at key times often coincided with question marks over his level of commitment to the cause, but his influential performances in helping PSG to last season's Champions League final where they lost to Bayern Munich, and in helping to knock out the same opponents in this term's quarter-finals, have largely dispelled those suggestions.

In recent months, it has been heavily suggested that Neymar is going to sign a new contract, with his present deal due to expire next season.

Neymar confirmed such an extension is almost complete to prolong a stay at a club where he feels at home.

"We are in discussion with PSG. There is no rush. Everything is almost settled," Neymar told RMC. 

"I feel at home, comfortable, I feel really very happy at Paris Saint-Germain. 

Can PSG improve defensively? They certainly have their work cut out!

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Manchester City - PSG: how much money have both clubs spent in recent years?

Recognised globally as two giants of the modern-day football business model, some traditionalists - not to mention rival chairmen and fans - have questioned the fairness of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City’s huge state owners. Nassel Al-Khalaifi and Sheikh Mansour have ploughed billions into their chosen clubs, both on and off the pitch, and have seen the rewards, to varying degrees, come from it.

Man CIty vs PSG: the transfer spree for success

PSG and City go head-to-head over two legs of the 2021 Champions League semi-finals with both clubs still to taste the ultimate continental glory of being crowned Champions of Europe. Will this year see that change? If so, it will be to a large extent down to the investment made on some of the world’s greatest footballing talent.

Read more on City vs PSG

PSG XI vs City

Man City announce their starting XI for PSG tie

BUNDESLIGA

Lahm: "Creativity is the most importante thing for Guardiola"

Phillip Lahm has expressed his admiration for Pep Guardiola and the kind of football his teams play. In his column for The Guardian, the former Bayern Munich captain recalled his own experiences of working under the Catalan coach: "Guardiola teams can be recognised immediately, even if the TV pictures were black and white shots: running free, the sequence of the passes, the positioning in the box, the dribbling, the way his team carries the ball forward together and push the play entirely into the other half. It’s not something a coach can simply achieve by issuing orders in the locker room. You have to work hard to achieve such superiority every day," he wrote.

As for the importance of having players with quality, he explained: "He even invents a position for absolutely exceptional players. So he let Lionel Messi, who grew into a kind of wonder of the world under him, reinterpret the centre forward position. He just knows that big matches are decided by big players. Creativity is more important than a scheme. His football is a celebration of individuality".

Read the full story

John Stones: "It was a great result for us coming away from Paris with two away goals."

England international John Stones spoke to mancity.com on Monday ahead of his team's Champions League match with PSG.

“It’s a big occasion for us as players and the club. A chance to get to the final of the Champions League.

“To be in the situation we are now, you just don't want to let it go. We are trying to grab every opportunity to succeed and we want to grab it. We need to show our character and be the Manchester City everyone knows. We want to make history for this club.

 “We go into the game tomorrow to win it. That’s our mindset over the past five years I've been here. Be who we are, playing the way we do.

“If it doesn't work out, we can hold our heads high and know we've been ourselves and shown our identity.

“But I am very confident in the lads and their ability, desire, belief in what we know we can do. I am confident we can go through and make the next step and make history for this club.

“We have to go into the game how we left off in the second half in Paris. It was a great result for us coming away from Paris with two away goals."

PSG starting XI vs Man City

According to French outlet RMC, this is how PSG will line out tonight. 

No Mbappé for the Ligue 1 side.

Man City team news

We'll have Manchester City team news in the next few minutes. 

Manchester City vs PSG

PSG leave their hotel ahead of tonight's gigantic battle.

Neymar: "I think every PSG fan should believe in us"

PSG face Manchester City tonight in the most important game of the season so far for both sides and one that could have lasting effects on the project of Nasser Al-Khelaifi in Paris and Pep Guardiola’s side as well with both clubs on the verge of achieving their long-held dream to conquer Europe.

PSG are 2-1 down from the opening leg of the contest at the Parc des Princes and will have to be at their best to overcome city in the Etihad after eliminating reigning champions Bayern Munich in the previous round. Neymar, who is close to agreeing a new deal to remain at PSG whatever the outcome of the tie, is confident that the Ligue 1 side can reach the final for a second consecutive season.

“The first thing we have to do before the game is rest [after the 2-1 victory over Lens on Saturday] and then we’ll back at full strength for the Champions League. We had a very complicated first leg against Manchester City but we have to believe in ourselves despite what the statistics say against us,” Neymar told the PSG official website.

“I think every PSG fan should believe in us. I’ll be on the front line and I’ll be the first to go into battle for the team. I’ll give the best of myself in the game and I’ll do everything to try and turn the result in our favour, even if we have to die on the pitch.”

Mbappé starts on the bench for PSG

Things will need to change for PSG if they want to break a series of Champions League heartbreaks over the last few years. And although City look unbeatable, Mauricio Pochettino’s side know they have the potential to win at the Etihad Stadium, just like Leeds United, Leicester City and Manchester United did this season.

Manchester City are almost touching the Premier League title, as they have 80 points, 13 more than Manchester United, who have one game in hand. If the Manchester United-Liverpool had taken place and the hosts had lost, City would already be champions. The champagne remains on ice but the glasses are laid out.

Meanwhile, PSG are fighting to retain the Ligue 1 title, as they are sitting second in the standings with 75 points, one behind leaders Lille, while Monaco are in third position with 71 points. There are still three games to be played.

Kylian Mbappé starts on the bench at the Etihad, according to RMC. Neymar & Di Maria start in attack. 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Manchester City vs PSG: times, TV & how to watch online

Manchester City and PSG will fight until the very last second in their semi-final second leg showdown at the Etihad Stadium in order to book a ticket to the Champions League final.

Manchester City - PSG: match preview

The English side will host the French champions with a 1-2 advantage from their first meeting at the Parc des Princes stadium one week ago, where Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez turned the tie on its head after Marquinhos’ opening goal.

All the information you need to know on how and where to watch Manchester City host PSG at the Etihad Stadium (Manchester) on 4 May at 3pm EDT / 9pm CEST.

Manchester City vs PSG live: welcome

Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage of this Champions League semi-final second leg as Manchester City host PSG at the Etihad stadium. Kick-off is at 21:00 CEST.