For the first time in history, Manchester City footballers advanced to the finals of the Champions League. In the home semifinals, they defeated Riyadh Mahriz Paris St. thanks to two goals. Germain 2: 0 and followed the initial 2: 1 win from the Princes’ Park. After 69 minutes, Ángela Di Maríi were awarded a free kick.
Coach “Pepa Guardiola’s charges” will play for the “eared” cup with Chelsea or Real Madrid, whose revenge is on Wednesday’s program after an initial 1: 1 draw in Spain. The final will take place on May 29 in Istanbul.
“It’s a big step for all of us, for the whole club. I’m incredibly proud. I’m always the first to think of substitutes. Everyone has contributed something this season in the Champions League. We now have three weeks to prepare for the finals,” the Guardiolu club website quoted , who as a coach won the competition with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011. In addition, on Saturday in the league, City can celebrate the third English title in the last four seasons.
The whole match in Manchester was spent on the bench by gunner PSG Mbappé, who did not play in the French league over the weekend due to injury. The home side put themselves ahead 1 – 0 after 11 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from 11 minutes into the game. Goalkeeper Ederson found Zincenko with a long kick, the Ukrainian defender passed to De Bruyne, whose blocked shot bounced off Mahriz, who overcame Navase from an angle and followed up on the winning shot from the first duel.
Six minutes later, visiting Captain Marquinhos headed into the crossbar. Subsequently, Di María took advantage of City’s erroneous pass, but headed right next to the half-exposed goal. His teammate Herrera fired above.
In the 62nd minute, the coach of PSG Pochettino made a double substitution, but his team immediately collected. Foden passed in front of the goal on the approaching Mahriz and the Algerian national team was not mistaken.
The finalist of last year’s Champions League had to score three goals at that moment, but as in the first duel, this time he finished weakening. After pushing the game with Fernandinho, Di María stepped on the captain’s leg and received a red card.
Manchester almost highlighted the lead in the power play, but Foden hit the post. The “Citizens” did not lose their fifth European Cup match and set a new English record with their seventh Champions League win.
“We didn’t start well today either. We didn’t do well, but the first goal calmed us down and we played very well in the second half. We had a lot of chances. They lost their temper and started kicking us. After the red card, we finished it in peace,” he said. Mahriz.
“We fought to the end. We can look each other in the eye, we put everything into it. For two years in a row, we fought our way into the top four teams. We had a good ride,” PSG midfielder Marco Verratti told uefa.com.
Manchester City – Paris St. Germain 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: 11th and 63rd Mahriz. Judges: Kuipers – Van Roekel, Zeinstra – Van Boekel (video, all Niz.). ZK: Zincenko, De Bruyne – Herrera, Verratti, Kimpembe, Danilo. ČK: 69. Di María (PSG). No spectators. First match: 2: 1, Manchester advanced.
Manchester: Ederson – Walker, Stones, Dias, Zinčenko – Silva (82. Sterling), Gündogan, Fernandinho – Mahriz, De Bruyne (82. Jesus), Foden (85. Agüero). Trenér: Guardiola.
PSG: Navas – Florenzi (75. Dagba), Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Diallo (83. Bakker) – Herrera (62. Draxler), Paredes (75. Danilo) – Di María, Verratti, Neymar – Icardi (62. Kean). Trenér: Pochettino.
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