MANCHESTER: England will have all four clubs in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League including both last season’s finalists.

Holders Chelsea secured progress on Tuesday and 2021 runners-up Manchester City followed them after hitting back from a goal down to beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1. Manchester United progressed on Tuesday and Liverpool maintained their own march by defeating Porto 2-0.

City kicked off as group leaders and knowing that a draw would ensure progress with one game to spare. Manager Pep Guardiola had attacking problems. He was without Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Ferran Torres through injury while Kevin de Bruyne was unavailable after testing positive last week for Covid-19 while on World Cup duty with Belgium.

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino, a contender sooner or later for the top job across Manchester at United, named a full-strength attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe. Messi had an excellent record against City He had scored seven goals in seven Champions League appearances against them.

City dominated the first half. PSG looked short of a traditional striker. Messi, Mbappe and Neymar weaved their patterns but rarely caused City serious problems. Mbappe wasted one half-chance.

City deserved to have been ahead at half-time but Ruben Dias had a shot blocked, Gundogan hit the outside of a post and Raheem Sterling shot high over the bar just before the interval.

PSG took the lead against the run of play immediately after the start of the second half. Messi and Neymar combined to create a gap which provided Mbappe with the opening goal from close range through goalkeeper Ederson’s legs.

Guardiola responded by sending on Gabriel Jesus to strengthen attack insead of makeshift midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Riyad Mahrez shot straight at keeper Keylor Navas before Sterling equalised. A cross from Kyle Walker was deflected by Gabriel Jesus and Sterling made no mistake this time.

The goal prompted PSG back onto the attack. Neymar shot wide and regretted the miss when City responded by taking the lead for the first time in the 77th minute. Gundogan, leading by captain’s example, set up Mahrez for a cross which Bernardo Silva tapped back for Jesus to score.

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