Champions League: Neymar Double Downs Manchester United, Gives PSG Champions League Lifeline | Football News

Paris Saint-Germain took an enormous step in the direction of avoiding an embarrassing early exit from the Champions League and left Manchester United with work to do to succeed in the final 16 as Neymar scored twice in a 3-1 win at Old Trafford. PSG, United and RB Leipzig at the moment are all tied on 9 factors on the prime of Group H with one recreation to go. But the French champions are within the driving seat as they host eradicated Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday, whereas United want some extent once they journey to Germany. “Winning at Old Trafford is one of the biggest challenges in the world,” stated PSG boss Thomas Tuchel. “The team showed that they wouldn’t accept defeat. “We have taken a giant step, a really laborious one, however we nonetheless must take the final step. We nonetheless have to work laborious, play with the identical mentality, the identical fireplace.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s males have been left to rue a bunch of giant possibilities early within the second half with the match poised at 1-1 after Marcus Rashford cancelled out Neymar’s early opener.

“We had some big chances, big moments and that’s the difference when you get to the big games,” stated Solskjaer.

However, the United boss’ determination to not substitute Fred earlier than he was despatched off seconds after Marquinhos scored PSG’s second was a naive mistake which value his aspect.

The Brazilian midfielder had been fortunate to flee a crimson card earlier than half-time when he was solely proven a yellow card after a headbutt on Leandro Paredes was reviewed.

“Fred shouldn’t put his head towards him, it’s either nothing or a red card, he’s a bit lucky to stay on,” conceded Solskjaer, who admitted to contemplating making a change at half-time.

“We spoke about staying calm, staying on your feet and the second one is nowhere near a yellow card.”

Leipzig’s late winner in a 4-Three thriller in Istanbul earlier on Wednesday piled the stress on PSG to win and preserve their destiny in their very own fingers going into matchday six.

The guests began brightly in response and went in entrance after simply six minutes when Neymar pounced on Kylian Mbappe’s deflected shot to drill low previous David de Gea.

Fred’s first fortunate escape got here on 24 minutes as Italian referee Daniele Orsato determined a yellow card was ample after reviewing the headbutt incident.

Tuchel was livid when United wanted simply eight extra minutes to take advantage of that reprieve when Rashford’s shot took a depraved deflection off Danilo to wrong-foot Keylor Navas.

– Martial’s miss –

But if PSG’s luck was out earlier than the break, they obtained the let-off they wanted at the beginning of the second interval by way of United’s profligacy.

Anthony Martial someway blazed over with the purpose at his mercy after sensible work from Rashford and Edinson Cavani.

Cavani is PSG’s report goalscorer after scoring 200 instances in seven seasons on the Parc des Princes, however the Uruguayan was allowed to depart without cost when his contract expired in June.

The 33-year-old was inches away from exacting revenge with a fragile chip over Navas that got here again off the crossbar earlier than Marquinhos’s courageous block denied Martial once more.

Tuchel’s future as PSG boss could be plunged into doubt by a failure to progress from the group stage, however he made a telling contribution with a change of system to shore up his aspect’s susceptibility on the counter-attack as Ander Herrera and Mitchel Bakker have been launched.

De Gea produced an unimaginable save from Bakker low to his left, however that solely delayed PSG retaking the lead by just a few seconds as, from the ensuing nook, the ball broke for Marquinhos to prod dwelling from shut vary.

“We knew the little details would make the difference,” Marquinhos informed RMC Sport. “They didn’t take their chances, we took ours and we are delighted tonight.

“In the second half we had the braveness and character to play and take dangers. The coach gave us the arrogance, telling us to take dangers. It labored and we’re actually happy.”

Promoted

Less than a minute after the purpose, United have been lastly all the way down to 10 males as Fred’s luck ran out regardless of enjoying the ball earlier than tripping Herrera.

And PSG gained some measure of revenge for his or her beautiful Champions League elimination to United in 2019 by sealing an enormous win with a 3rd in stoppage time when Neymar rolled dwelling Rafinha’s cut-back.