Manchester City’s chances of Champions League progress are in peril after they lost a two-goal lead to slump to defeat against Paris St-Germain at Parc des Princes.

On a torrid, rain-lashed night in Paris, all the frailties that have haunted City in a season of decline were laid bare as Pep Guardiola’s side crumbled dramatically in the face of PSG’s pace and creation.

City’s defeat means they risk elimination from the Champions League as they stand 25th in the table, having to win their final game at home to Club Brugge next Wednesday.

It was pure theatre in Paris after Manchester City looked to have turned the game in their favour when substitute Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland struck twice in the first eight minutes of the second half.

PSG, however, had City’s defence living on its nerves all night and hit back instantly when substitute Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola levelled the game before the hour.

Dembele then struck the bar before the outstanding Joao Neves headed home Vitinha’s free-kick after being left unmarked, and City’s agony was compounded in stoppage time when, after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check, Goncalo Ramos’ powerful strike gave the scoreline a more realistic appearance.

City barely deserved the lead that close finishes from Grealish and Haaland had given them, but PSG’s power, pace and quality enabled the dramatic comeback that deepened the gloom surrounding the Premier League champions this season.

Guardiola stood soaked and stunned on the sideline as he witnessed a collapse on a scale he has rarely witnessed in his managerial career, let alone from his all-conquering Manchester City side.

City, knowing defeat would leave them on the brink in the Champions League, were fortunate to survive a first-half assault from PSG that saw Joao Neves head wide of an open goal, Josko Gvardiol clear off the line from Fabio Ruiz, while Vitinha also had a goal ruled out for offside.

Ruben Dias was removed at half-time after a first 45 minutes of toil, and suddenly the clouds looked to have cleared for City with those two goals.

Instead, when the old City would have finished the job, this latest version were run ragged by a vibrant PSG, who actually did not deserve to be behind, let alone two goals adrift.

City were all at sea as PSG went up the gears, the final score of 4-2 not reflecting the fierce going-over they were given as the tables were turned on them.

Guardiola’s team looked old and laboured, devoid of pace and highly vulnerable on a sobering night that illustrated the scale of the rebuilding job Guardiola faces.

He has already started, confirming before the game that new young defensive duo, Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens and Vitor Reis from Palmeiras, are ready to be thrown into Premier League action.

On the grim evidence of a chilling night in Paris, they may get their chance sooner than they expected.

PSG coach Enrique outflanks old friend Guardiola

City boss Guardiola said his friendship with old Barcelona cohort Luis Enrique would endure forever, but there was no doubt who won this sporting battle in Paris.

Guardiola hoped his half-time changes of Grealish and Rico Lewis for Savinho and the struggling Dias would spark his team into life, and when City took that 2-0 lead it seemed the ploy had worked.

Instead it was the maverick Dembele, also on at half-time for Lee Kang-in, who changed the course of the game with an explosive display of raw pace and rich talent.

In tandem with the outstanding Barcola, he helped PSG rip City to shreds in the second half, the home side looking to rack up more goals in the final stages rather than letting Guardiola’s team back in.

Tonight at least, this was vindication of PSG’s strategic decision to switch from the era of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar to a younger, more unsung team.

And, with a thrilling climax set up by the final round of games, the new Champions League format has also come into its own.

BBC