Manchester City

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The manner in which Manchester City collapsed in the Stade Drance, crumbling in the face of PSG's thrilling attacking assault, exposed every flaw that has seen Pep Guardiola's side slide into a steep decline this season.

They are off the pace in defence of their domestic title, while they now need a win against Club Brugge at Etihad Stadium to go into the Champions League play-offs, their standing of 25th in the new table something that should serve as a source of embarrassment to everyone at the club.

Guardiola's Manchester City of old would have completed the job after going two up. Not this version. Not the version that has lost eight points from winning positions in the Champions League and 14 in the Premier League.

In a PSG barrage, City faced 26 shots - the highest total against them since the Champions League game against Real Madrid in September 2012 when the Spaniards had 35.

Guardiola, as he stood soaked and stunned on the sidelines, powerless to prevent a defeat which should have been far more emphatic, may now realise he has an even bigger rebuilding job on his hands than he thought.

What was unthinkable at the start of the season will now be troubling the thoughts of a manager and team in danger of elimination before the last 16.

Read Phil McNulty's full piece from Paris here

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Former England defender Matt Upson says Paris Saint-Germain "ran riot" as Manchester City surrendered a two-goal lead in the Champions League.

"There was an element of fortune for the City goals but it was down to driving and being positive," said Upson on BBC Radio 5 Live. "Then, it is just hard to explain.

"The distances were miles off. When PSG got that first goal, you just knew [they would go on to win the game]. It was just chance after chance. PSG ran riot.

"City's confidence has been dented. You can't just walk into the supermarket and buy confidence off the shelf.

"They are not quite there physically either, but I think that is down to the confidence. Once you get that sinking feeling, it is going to fall apart. It is difficult for the team and difficult for the manager - and it is a tough moment."

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Juventus have offered Chelsea the opportunity to sign Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz, 26, who is also on the radar of Manchester City and Arsenal. (Teamtalk, external)

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This is how the bottom half of the league table looks after seven games. Any side that finishes 25th or below after eight gameweeks will be eliminated.

Manchester City, European champions in 2023, currently occupy 25th spot, but with Stuttgart in 24th entertaining Paris Saint-Germain in 22nd next week in a winner-takes-all clash, that gives City a route into the play-offs.

If City win at home to Club Brugge, then Pep Guardiola's side will scrape into the play-offs. If they draw or lose to Club Brugge, City will be out and their European campaign will be all over before the end of January.

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Manchester City's match against Club Brugge will be like their "first knockout game" of the Champions League campaign, says former defender Nedum Onuoha.

City's 4-2 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain has left them sitting 25th in the table and in danger of exiting the competition unless they win their final game at home to Club Brugge next Wednesday.

Speaking on MOTD: Uefa Champions League, Onuoha said: "Manchester City looked like they suffered for the vast majority of that second half, which is unlike City, and they were never able to rebound because the pressure was on all the time.

"This one [losing the lead] feels different to the Brentford one and different to the Feyenoord one, because Paris Saint-Germain were by far the better team.

"The most shocking thing about City's performance is how poorly they managed the game from 2-0 up. City teams of the past would have taken the sting out of the game and stayed in control, but instead they could not keep the ball at all.

"Not many people thought that Manchester City would be in this position whereby they would have to have a must-win game against Club Brugge in the final game to essentially scrape through into the knockout rounds.

"But, the opportunity is there. There is going to be some nervousness, but it is a big game and it is basically their first knockout game of the competition."

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports: "The first half they had some moments, we had some moments, but they were better.

"We scored the first goal, we could not control it. In that moment we were knocked out and they were lifted and then they were better. They were quicker, faster, stronger in the duels. They had control in the middle and we could not cope with that.

"I accept the defeat because the best team won. We have a last chance at home against Club Brugge. If we win then hopefully we can qualify.

"The game was never like we wanted but for that I give so much credit to PSG. They are an extraordinary team. But at 2-0 if we could manage it... but they scored right after. Then if we could keep the ball a little bit and stay like that it would have been better but we could not do it.

"To defend the result you have to keep the ball and we did not do that. They had it more, they attacked better and that is why it was difficult.

On City potentially going out of the competition: "It could happen. If we don't win, we don't deserve it.

"Sporting is tough, PSG is tough, Juventus is tough, all the away games we had were difficult. This is the reality. We did not get enough points. The last game against Bruges will dictate what we have to do."

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Manchester City goalscorer Jack Grealish, speaking to TNT Sports: "I don't know what happened.

"Usually in those moments we're so good, it's happened too many times this season where we've gone one, two, three goals up and we've not be able to control the game and see it out.

"It's weird because in every other season we've been so good in those moments, managing the game. I don't know if it's a confidence thing. For most of this season we've not been at the levels we know we can be. It's down to ourselves to try and change that moving forward and to try and win the game next week.

"It's difficult, I don't know if it's a confidence thing, we had so many players on the pitch when we went 2-0 up that are so good at keeping the ball. We've not been doing that recently.

"Credit to Paris, they were so good, very energetic. A lot better than I thought - I don't mean that in a bad way but they were top tonight, a really good team. I think they deserved to win."

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Manchester City have failed to win a game in which they were ahead in all competitions this season on nine occasions (D5 L4) - the most of any Premier League club in 2024-25.

They have also lost their past three away Champions League matches - their second-longest losing streak on the road after four defeats on the bounce between November 2011 and December 2012 under Roberto Mancini.

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Sources involved in the deal are adamant defender Kyle Walker's impending move to AC Milan is not done. However, it is getting close.

Walker was given time to explore his options by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

That has zeroed in on AC Milan, who are moving for Walker in preference to Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford given they could only sign one non-EU player.

It is not clear when the deal will be confirmed but once Wednesday's matches are out of the way, it should not be long.

It is expected to be an initial loan to the end of the season, with an agreed fee that would allow the Serie A side to buy the 34-year-old in the summer.

Two Premier League teams are in action in the Champions League on Wednesday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb

• Paris St-Germain v Man City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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It seems remarkable to be talking about Manchester City needing results to remain in the Champions League rather than secure a top-eight place but that's where we are.

In fact, Wednesday's match at Paris St-Germain has entered "must-win" territory for both.

City go into the match in 24th - the final play-off spot - on eight points, with PSG just behind in 26th with seven points.

They may not need both, but at the moment, only two wins from two would guarantee Pep Guardiola's side a place in the knockout play-off round.

Read more about what's a stake for both teams later

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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It won't get announced on Wednesday because Manchester City have quite an important match to play...

However, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush is on the verge of completing his move to the club.

The Egypt international had his medical on Tuesday and I would imagine everything will be confirmed on Thursday, possibly in time for him to figure in Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea at Etihad Stadium.

Marmoush will represent the attacking replacement many felt City should have signed in the summer when Julian Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid.

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Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha says Phil Foden must feel like a "more familiar player now", after scoring six goals in his past six games for the side.

"Given how well Phil Foden played last season, all the awards that he won and then for him to start the season and not score a league goal for probably three months... I think he would have been concerned," Onuoha said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The coach would have been concerned and there were real questions about what was going on there.

"I think, for him, he feels like he's a more familiar player now and I'm sure he'll be excited about the second half of the season as well."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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The current Champions League table is imbalanced due to half the teams playing seven games and the other half playing six, but, in addition to where they are, it is worth keeping an eye on who clubs might play.

Manchester City have dropped a place but their potential play-off opponents has changed from either AC Milan or Atletico Madrid to French pair Brest or Monaco.

Uefa believed the new system would encourage clubs to try and finish in the top two slots to avoid each other until the final. That is looking like Liverpool and Barcelona at the moment.

I do not think anyone has factored in City or defending champions Real Madrid - who are 22nd - performing quite as badly as they have.