• Ederson - 6, Will have been surprised by how little he had to do in the first half but had the ball put through his legs within minutes of the second. Stayed alert until the end despite having further periods without seeing much of the ball. AFP
    Ederson - 6, Will have been surprised by how little he had to do in the first half but had the ball put through his legs within minutes of the second. Stayed alert until the end despite having further periods without seeing much of the ball. AFP
  • Kyle Walker - 8, Authoritative on and off the ball, making a great recovery run to put Kylian Mbappe under pressure for his shot in the first half. Unlucky to see his deflection from Messi’s cross go straight to Mbappe for the opener but did brilliantly to make the run at the other end and create City’s equaliser. Reuters
    Kyle Walker - 8, Authoritative on and off the ball, making a great recovery run to put Kylian Mbappe under pressure for his shot in the first half. Unlucky to see his deflection from Messi’s cross go straight to Mbappe for the opener but did brilliantly to make the run at the other end and create City’s equaliser. Reuters
  • John Stones - 7, Lost the ball in a dangerous area but got away with it and often looked in control. EPA
    John Stones - 7, Lost the ball in a dangerous area but got away with it and often looked in control. EPA
  • Ruben Dias - 8, Did a good job of nullifying PSG’s threat with great awareness to cut out potentially dangers. Had an ambitious shot blocked. AP
    Ruben Dias - 8, Did a good job of nullifying PSG’s threat with great awareness to cut out potentially dangers. Had an ambitious shot blocked. AP
  • Joao Cancelo - 7, Made some important defensive interventions and was a real threat going forward, delivering a great ball for Gundogan’s chance. Booked for a lunge on Messi. EPA
    Joao Cancelo - 7, Made some important defensive interventions and was a real threat going forward, delivering a great ball for Gundogan’s chance. Booked for a lunge on Messi. EPA
  • Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Showed so much intelligence in his runs and passing, but should have scored when the ball came to him in the box. Showed good composure to pass the ball back to Mahrez for the winner. PA
    Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Showed so much intelligence in his runs and passing, but should have scored when the ball came to him in the box. Showed good composure to pass the ball back to Mahrez for the winner. PA
  • Rodri - 8, Did a brilliant job of breaking up PSG’s attacking play and moved the ball well in the first half. Was unlucky to see his header denied by Kimpembe but then played a lovely pass to Walker for the equaliser.. Booked for a foul on Leandro Paredes. AP
    Rodri - 8, Did a brilliant job of breaking up PSG’s attacking play and moved the ball well in the first half. Was unlucky to see his header denied by Kimpembe but then played a lovely pass to Walker for the equaliser.. Booked for a foul on Leandro Paredes. AP
  • Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6, Moved the ball and pressed well, but took too long when a chance came to break after Ander Herrera surrendered possession. Getty
    Oleksandr Zinchenko - 6, Moved the ball and pressed well, but took too long when a chance came to break after Ander Herrera surrendered possession. Getty
  • Riyad Mahrez - 8, Created a threat almost every time he had the ball. Delivered wonderful crosses, with one of those creating the chance for the winner, and had a nice shot touched away by Keylor Navas. Getty
    Riyad Mahrez - 8, Created a threat almost every time he had the ball. Delivered wonderful crosses, with one of those creating the chance for the winner, and had a nice shot touched away by Keylor Navas. Getty
  • Bernardo Silva - 8, Was a delight to watch, making intelligent runs and passes with one going to Mahrez in the box when things were tight. Provided a beautiful touch to assist Gabriel Jesus for the winner. PA
    Bernardo Silva - 8, Was a delight to watch, making intelligent runs and passes with one going to Mahrez in the box when things were tight. Provided a beautiful touch to assist Gabriel Jesus for the winner. PA
  • Raheem Sterling - 8, Constantly tested Achraf Hakimi and played a nice pullback for Zinchenko’s blocked shot. Showed persistence and had his big moment when he snuck the ball inside the post to equalise. AP
    Raheem Sterling - 8, Constantly tested Achraf Hakimi and played a nice pullback for Zinchenko’s blocked shot. Showed persistence and had his big moment when he snuck the ball inside the post to equalise. AP
  • SUBS: Gabriel Jesus (Zinchenko, 54’) - 8, Made a mess of his attempted shot but luckily saw it fall to Sterling, then made no mistake with his finish to score the winner. Battled well, even when outnumbered and picked up a late booking. EPA
    SUBS: Gabriel Jesus (Zinchenko, 54’) - 8, Made a mess of his attempted shot but luckily saw it fall to Sterling, then made no mistake with his finish to score the winner. Battled well, even when outnumbered and picked up a late booking. EPA
  • PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7, Had some shaky moments with his feet but made good stops to deny City – especially Mahrez. There was little he could do for either goal. Getty
    PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 7, Had some shaky moments with his feet but made good stops to deny City – especially Mahrez. There was little he could do for either goal. Getty
  • Achraf Hakimi - 7, Made a brilliant headed clearance to deny Mahrez and largely defended well throughout. Also made some threatening forays up the pitch. EPA
    Achraf Hakimi - 7, Made a brilliant headed clearance to deny Mahrez and largely defended well throughout. Also made some threatening forays up the pitch. EPA
  • Marquinhos - 7, Showed plenty of resilience and awareness in his defending, being unlucky to be on a team that conceded twice. AP
    Marquinhos - 7, Showed plenty of resilience and awareness in his defending, being unlucky to be on a team that conceded twice. AP
  • Presnel Kimpembe - 8, Had a couple of awkward moments on the ball but his defending was brilliant. The France international made a superb clearance off the line to deny Rodri and made various other important interventions, including a block on Zinchenko’s shot. Getty
    Presnel Kimpembe - 8, Had a couple of awkward moments on the ball but his defending was brilliant. The France international made a superb clearance off the line to deny Rodri and made various other important interventions, including a block on Zinchenko’s shot. Getty
  • Nuno Mendes - 6, Had a sloppy start and got away with an unconvincing clearance that fell to Gundogan’s feet. He did get forward well in the build-up to the opener. EPA
    Nuno Mendes - 6, Had a sloppy start and got away with an unconvincing clearance that fell to Gundogan’s feet. He did get forward well in the build-up to the opener. EPA
  • Leandro Paredes - 6, Helped Kimpembe in a potentially awkward situation and did the basics well throughout. Bought some fouls in tricky situations. EPA
    Leandro Paredes - 6, Helped Kimpembe in a potentially awkward situation and did the basics well throughout. Bought some fouls in tricky situations. EPA
  • Ander Herrera - 7, Got away with conceding possession in a dangerous area but helped beat the press well at times and worked hard. Nice linkup play for the opener. Getty
    Ander Herrera - 7, Got away with conceding possession in a dangerous area but helped beat the press well at times and worked hard. Nice linkup play for the opener. Getty
  • Idrissa Gueye - 8, Showed composure in the midfield and worked hard to help out the defence when possible. Driving Mahrez back was an example of how authoritative he was defensively. AFP
    Idrissa Gueye - 8, Showed composure in the midfield and worked hard to help out the defence when possible. Driving Mahrez back was an example of how authoritative he was defensively. AFP
  • Lionel Messi - 7, Had some moments that were pleasing on the eye and brought the productivity to set up Mbappe for the opener. However, he struggled to make an impact when dropping deep. EPA
    Lionel Messi - 7, Had some moments that were pleasing on the eye and brought the productivity to set up Mbappe for the opener. However, he struggled to make an impact when dropping deep. EPA
  • Kylian Mbappe - 7, Had a quiet first half and the forward’s effort was poor when he was played through before the break. However, he opened the scoring by putting the ball through Ederson’s legs. EPA
    Kylian Mbappe - 7, Had a quiet first half and the forward’s effort was poor when he was played through before the break. However, he opened the scoring by putting the ball through Ederson’s legs. EPA
  • Neymar - 7, Had a couple of eye-catching moments despite not seeing a lot of the ball and slipped Mbappe through well for his wasted chance. He then did well in the build-up to the opener but put the ball wide himself after doing brilliantly to find the opening. EPA
    Neymar - 7, Had a couple of eye-catching moments despite not seeing a lot of the ball and slipped Mbappe through well for his wasted chance. He then did well in the build-up to the opener but put the ball wide himself after doing brilliantly to find the opening. EPA
  • SUBS: Danilo Pereira (Herrera, 60’) - 6, Did well to take the ball away from Stones on the edge of his box but struggled to really get a hold on the game. AP
    SUBS: Danilo Pereira (Herrera, 60’) - 6, Did well to take the ball away from Stones on the edge of his box but struggled to really get a hold on the game. AP
  • Angel Di Maria (Gueye, 67’) - 6, Provided a brilliant touch to help create the chance for Neymar, then sent a horrible shot high and wide. Reuters
    Angel Di Maria (Gueye, 67’) - 6, Provided a brilliant touch to help create the chance for Neymar, then sent a horrible shot high and wide. Reuters
  • Thilo Kehrer (Mendes, 67’) - 5, Struggled to stop City getting balls into the box from his side, which eventually resulted in a winner for the hosts. EPA
    Thilo Kehrer (Mendes, 67’) - 5, Struggled to stop City getting balls into the box from his side, which eventually resulted in a winner for the hosts. EPA

Sport

Football

Manchester City v PSG ratings: Sterling 8, Mahrez 8; Messi 7, Mbappe 7

City win the group as Messi, Mbappe and Neymar struggle to make an impoact

Danny Lewis

November 25, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Gabriel Jesus scored a 76th-minute winner as Manchester City beat Paris St Germain 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium to take their place in the Champions League knockout stages as Group A winners.

PSG also advanced to the last 16 thanks to Leipzig's win over Club Brugge but the loss highlighted their continued problems in finding an effective way to harness their star-studded attack.

For the opening 45 minutes, City dominated play with their usual invention and verve while PSG's front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe too often watched from afar.

Iklay Gundogan hit the post in the 32nd minute and Riyad Mahrez twice went close while the most Paris managed before the interval was a breakaway which ended with Mbappe curling a shot over the bar.

Four minutes after the break, however, PSG grabbed the lead, Mbappe drilling the ball home at the back post after Messi's cross had deflected off Kyle Walker into the French forward's path.

City drew level when Raheem Sterling poked home at the back post after a lovely ball from Rodri had set up Walker for a trademark low cross.

Mahrez created the winner, floating a ball to Bernardo Silva at the far post and the Portuguese midfielder showed a deft touch to cushion the ball to Jesus who picked his spot.

You can see the player ratings from the game in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?

If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.

Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.

Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.

Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).

Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal. 

Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.

By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.

As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.

Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.

He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.” 

This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”

Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.

Updated: November 25, 2021, 4:22 AM
Champions LeagueManchester City