Both Paris SG and Manchester City needed a three-pointer to reach the playoffs in the new format of the Champions League.
Before the meeting in Paris, City was 24th in the table – the last playoff spot – and PSG was 25th.
After a goalless first half – where PSG had a goal disallowed after a VAR review for a narrow offside – it looked like both teams would lose with a draw.
Substitutes scored
But after the break, it exploded in the heavy rain at Parc des Princes in Paris.
First, substitute Jack Grealish scored 1–0 for Manchester City in the 50th minute, and three minutes later, Norwegian star striker Erlin Haaland could extend to 2–0 for the away team.
Was PSG out of the game? Not at all.
City's joy only lasted for three minutes. In the 56th minute, Ousmane Dembélé – who was substituted in for the second half – could reduce and four minutes later, it was also 2–2.
Désiré Doué hit the crossbar with a resounding shot, but Bradley Barcola could snatch up the rebound and score the equalizer.
PSG took over completely after the equalization. Dembélé did what he wanted with his lively legs and hit the crossbar.
Neves decided
In the end, the decisive winning goal fell with just over a quarter of an hour left to play. Portuguese Vitinha hit a perfect free kick against the far post, and there, his compatriot João Neves could nod in 3–2 behind Ederson in the Manchester City goal.
In stoppage time, Goncalo Ramos also scored 4–2 for PSG.
The three-pointer means that PSG ends up on the right side of the playoff line. Manchester City is just below with one round left to play.
Arsenal remains in third place after a 3–0 home win over Dinamo Zagreb. Damien Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard scored the London club's goals.
