PSG 2-2 Manchester City: Premier League side well-placed after draw in Paris By Gerard Brand
Last Updated: 06/04/16 9:50pm
Manchester City are in a strong position going into their Champions League quarter-final second leg after a 2-2 draw at PSG on Wednesday. In a topsy-turvy affair, Joe Hart produced a fine save from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's early penalty after Bacary Sagna had fouled David Luiz, before Kevin De Bruyne gave City a surprise lead on the break. A sloppy Fernando mistake handed Ibrahimovic a bizarre equaliser on 41 minutes, and PSG took the lead on 59 minutes through Adrien Rabiot's tap-in. Fernandinho equalised for City on 72 minutes after his deflected effort from close range found the net, and that's how it stayed as the visitors claimed a credible 2-2 scoreline back to the Etihad Stadium. City were competing in their first-ever Champions League last eight tie, and could have been handed a numerical advantage early on after Luiz brought down Sergio Aguero in the opening seconds.
Serbian referee Milorad Mazic handed Luiz a yellow card despite the Argentine looking to run through on goal, but the defender will now miss the return leg in Manchester on Tuesday.
Mazic was at the centre of attention again after 13 minutes, handing PSG a penalty after Luiz was tripped by Sagna in the area.
But Hart spared the defender's blushed by saving superbly down to his right from Ibrahimovic's spot kick.
Ibrahimovic's unmarked far-post header was then well collected by Hart a minute later, before David Silva glanced a header wide at the other end from Jesus Navas' inch-perfect cross.
The Sweden international had another fine opportunity to put the hosts ahead, but blazed over with just Hart to beat from 18 yards after Thiago Motta's defence-splitting through ball.
City broke the deadlock on 38 minutes after a fine counter attack, Fernandinho finding De Bruyne on the right for the Belgian to drill the ball past Kevin Trapp from 12 yards out.
But the joy of a valuable away goal soon disappeared as City gifted PSG a way back into the tie three minutes later.
Upon receiving Hart's goal kick just outside the area, Fernando turned towards Ibrahimovic before seeing his pass deflect off the Swede and into the empty net, leaving the England goalkeeper helpless.
PSG then could have been ahead going into the break, but Blaise Matuidi's centre for the unmarked Edinson Cavani was overhit as City survived.
The Ligue 1 champions took the lead for the first time in the game just before the hour mark after Hart parried Cavani's header from an Angel Di Maria corner into the path of Rabiot, who converted with ease from close range.
Ibrahimovic's header from 10 yards floated onto the bar five minutes later, as the hosts piled forward in search of a two-goal cushion.
But the tie took another sharp twist as City equalised with 18 minutes remaining through Fernandinho, whose low effort on the rebound from eight yards deflected off the back of Thiago Silva's legs and fortuitously slipped into the bottom corner.
http://www.skysports.com/football/psg-vs-man-city/report/354726