MX23RW : Monday, December 23 17:06:57| >> :120:4640:4640:
[monks data]
PSG logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 28, 2021 at 8pm UK
Parc des Princes
Manchester City logo

PSG
2 - 0
Man City

Gueye (8'), Messi (74')
Verratti (77')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Cancelo (24'), De Bruyne (39')

Facing Lionel Messi was a good test despite defeat to PSG, says Ruben Dias

Facing Lionel Messi was a good test despite defeat to PSG, says Ruben Dias
© Reuters
The Argentinian scored his first goal since his summer move from Barcelona in the 2-0 win over Manchester City.

Ruben Dias believes Manchester City will have learned plenty from testing themselves against Lionel Messi despite their Champions League defeat at Paris St Germain.

Messi scored a superb first goal since his summer move from Barcelona as the French side gained some revenge for last season’s semi-final loss with a 2-0 victory in their group clash on Tuesday.

The Argentinian exploded into life in the 74th minute at the Parc des Princes, running from halfway and finishing from the edge of the box after playing a one-two with Kylian Mbappe.

Despite the defeat, which saw City slip to third in Group A behind Bruges and PSG, defender Dias felt the Premier League champions could take a lot of positives.

The Portuguese said: “If you want to be at the top, if you want to be number one, you need to play against some of the best.

“I would say that is the best you can have. It is always challenging and it is always good to be able to prove yourself to yourself. As a team it is always special to play these games.

“We are disappointed because we demand everything we can from ourselves, individually and collectively. If we don’t take a win we will never be satisfied, even though we have made a good game.

“We know in the ultimate instant what matters is winning but the team performed and we created chances. We will take the ‘goods’ and the ‘bads’ and we will get better.”

Messi had been a doubt ahead of the game but grabbed the headlines with his sublime strike, which added to an early effort from former Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

The six-time world player of the year had made a slow start to his PSG career, failing to find the net in his first three appearances and being hampered by fitness problems. There had been questions over whether the much-vaunted front trio of Messi, Neymar and Mbappe would click but there may be fewer doubts now.

“I hadn’t been able to play recently and this was only my second game in this stadium,” Messi, 34, told Canal+. “I’m adapting to my new team.

“The more we forwards play together the better our relationship will be. We all need to grow together and improve and keep giving our best.”

Despite the result, City could reflect on a strong performance. They ensured Gianluigi Donnarumma was the busier goalkeeper and also hit the bar twice in quick succession through Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva.

Messi said: “They were great opponents but it was very important for us to win the match after our draw against Bruges.”

City will aim to bounce back at Anfield on Sunday
Manchester City will aim to bounce back at Anfield on Sunday (Julien Poupart/PA)

City are back in action against title rivals Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, their third tough away game in just over a week stretching back to last Saturday’s victory at Chelsea.

Dias does not believe the frustration in the French capital will have any bearing on the trip to Merseyside.

He said: “It affects nothing. We know what we are capable of and we know our identity. We know what we need to do at Anfield to win.

“It is a loss and we are frustrated but that is the good habit of being a top team. We will take it but in no time will be there again.”

ID:465928:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6303:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Lionel Messi

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!