Manchester City took a giant step towards the Champions League final with a 2-1 victory at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.
Marquinhos gave the French giants the lead in the first half but goals after the break from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez have given Pep Guardiola‘s side the advantage going into next week’s second leg.
Here, Sportsmail’s Jack Gaughan gives his verdict on how each player performed at Parc des Princes.
Manchester City celebrate after Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick put them 2-0 up against PSG
PSG (4-2-3-1)
Keylor Navas – 5
One very shaky moment where he gifted possession before the break and not blameless for City’s equaliser.
Alessandro Florenzi – 6
Seemed to be keeping Phil Foden relatively quiet until the 20-year-old really began to roam.
Marquinhos – 7
Captain injured for three weeks but back with a bang as header from a corner flew beyond Ederson.
Presnel Kimpembe – 6
Often tricky with nobody specific to mark and that became problematic as City hit their stride.
Mitchel Bakker – 6
Had stuck to his task against Riyad Mahrez yet grew mentally tired as the first leg grew older.
Idrissa Gueye – 5
Best player on the pitch for half an hour but lost his way before red carded for a horrendous tackle on Ilkay Gundogan.
Idrissa Gueye was the best player on the pitch for half an hour but lost his way before getting sent off
Leondro Paredes – 6.5
Cleverly blocked off Ruben Dias for the PSG opener. Good use of the ball in allowing others to flourish.
Angel Di Maria – 8
Wicked delivery from set pieces all evening; the Argentine is worth picking for those alone.
Angel Di Maria once again impressed and his delivery from set pieces was perfect every time
Marco Verratti – 7.5
Did not waste a single pass in the opening 45 minutes. Industrious as he floated from midfield.
Neymar – 6.5
A box of tricks. Drew fouls, ghosted past markers. But City found a way to deal with him.
Kylian Mbappe – 6.5
On the periphery for the majority of the night yet still so dangerous when manufacturing space.
Kylian Mbappe was on the periphery for the majority of the night in a frustrating performance
Subs
Danilo (for Di Maria, 80)
Ander Herrera (for Paredes, 83)
Subs not used: Rico, Kehrer, Icardi, Rafinha, Kean, Sarabia, Kurzawa, Diallo, Draxler, Dagba
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino – 6
Big call with the full backs, particularly Bakker. Will wonder how they did not press home early advantage.
Manchester City (4-2-1-3)
Ederson – 7.5
A number of vital interventions when City were under siege at the start eventually proved crucial.
Kyle Walker – 8
Performed admirably in stopping PSG when countering at blistering pace. Flew forward from right back.
Kyle Walker produced a defensive masterclass in stopping PSG’s dangerous counter attacks
John Stones – 7
Sturdy display. Won his aerial duels and one crucial block. Kept things simple. Tracked runners intelligently.
Ruben Dias – 7
A few uncharacteristically hairy moments for someone usually so unflappable. Regained his composure thereafter.
Joao Cancelo – 6
Early booking hampered the Portuguese and felt like he was walking a tightrope from thereon in.
Rodri – 6
Awful start, the game far too quick for him. Then just looked more assured, holding midfield well as City dominated.
Rodri struggled to adapt to the pace of the game but became more assured as it went on
Ilkay Gundogan – 6.5
Could have done more to thwart Marquinhos from a corner. Recycled possession far more urgently later in the game.
Bernardo Silva – 7
Flitted in and out. City’s most productive attacker in the first half, faded and then came back into it.
Riyad Mahrez – 8.5
Defensively integral in City remaining in the tie before the break, then popped up with a goal.
Riyad Mahrez was defensively integral in City remaining in the tie before scoring the second
Kevin De Bruyne – 8
Cross went all the way in for the equaliser. Initially isolated before running the game in the second half.
Phil Foden – 7
Strong again. Will look back at first-half chance and wonder if he could have side-footed into the near corner.
Subs
Aleks Zinchenko (for Cancelo, 61) – 6
Subs not used: Steffen, Trafford, Ake, Sterling, Jesus, Aguero, Laporte, Torres, Mendy, Fernandinho, Garcia
Manager: Pep Guardiola – 7
Picked a team with players all in form and will be pleased they remained in the game and then caused problems.
Referee: Felix Brych (GER) – 6
Allowed the game to flow where possible but City were left very frustrated by a lack of free-kicks.
