TheCable

Manchester City took a giant step towards qualifying for their first-ever UEFA Champions League (UCL) final with a 2-1 win over Paris Saint Germain (PSG) in their semi-final first leg encounter at the Parc des Princes stadium in France on Wednesday night.

Riyad Mahrez scored the winning goal — a free kick — for the English Premier League (EPL) side following Kevin de Bruyne’s leveller.

Pep Guardiola made four changes to the team that won the Carabao Cup final, while Marquinhos returned for the first time since the quarter-final match at Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian defender would give the Parisians a deserved 1-0 lead on 15 minutes off a glancing header from Angel Di Maria’s corner-kick delivery.

Man City, playing without a recognised striker, managed only six touches inside PSG’s box in the first half but fashioned two chances y Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden, which were thwarted by Keylor Navas, PSG goalkeeper.

The Cityzens turned up for a brilliant second-half response with de Bruyne’s cross fortuitously finding the net on 64 minutes. Seven minutes later Mahrez’s free-kick went through the wall and into the bottom corner to complete the turnaround.

A bewildered PSG went down to ten men when Idrissa Gueye was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Ilkay Gundogan on 77 minutes.

Manchester City should have added another goal through Foden but they held on for their 18th consecutive away win in all competitions, putting them in the driving seat for a possible first-ever UCL final appearance.

They can finish off the tie in next week Tuesday’s second leg at the Etihad stadium in England.