MAN UNITED 1 PARIS ST GERMAIN 3
Manchester United were undone by Brazilian magic as their Champions League qualification hopes are on a knife edge.
All three of Paris St Germain’s goals were from Brazilians, two from Neymar and the other from Marquinhos.
On a disappointing night, United’s own Brazilian Fred did not cover himself in glory getting sent off.
It leaves United having to avoid defeat in Germany against RB Leipzig next week if they are to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League.
The loss leaves Group H finely poised as the two clubs and Leipzig are all on nine points going into the final round of fixtures.
It was a case of what might have been for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side – they had enough chances to have triumphed and complete a double having earlier won in Paris.
The difference was in the finishing as PSG took their chances and United didn’t. That was the stark reality.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat was something captain Harry Maguire touched on, saying: “It was a disappointing night. We wanted to win the game, win the group. Football is a game of fine margins.
“We had better chances. Their two goals are scrappy goals – richochet and pinball around the box. I feel we deserved something.
“You’ve got to take your chances and not give away soft goals.
“We’re still in control of going through to the knockout stages.”
Those comments were mirrored by Solskjaer who said: “It was a very good game which deserved fans. With a bit more clinical finishing we should have finished the game. They were there for the taking [early in the second half].
“We had some big chances. The difference when you get to the big games is the clinical moments.
“There were things we could have done better, but I thought we played a very good game.
“If Marquinhos had bigger studs on he’d have been offside. It’s marginal. You can’t really put your finger on the deciding factors.”
And of having to gain a positive result in Germany, Solskjaer said: “We know our destiny is in our own hands.
“Leipzig reached the semi-finals last season, but we are developing into a better team.”
United made three changes from their 3-2 comeback win at Southampton on Sunday.
Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial and former PSG favourite Edinson Cavani – who came off the bench to score twice – replaced Nemanja Matic, Donny van de Beek and Mason Greenwood.
David de Gea and Alex Telles were both fit to start after suffering knocks during that game.
PSG made four changes from their 2-2 draw at home to Bordeaux on Saturday.
Regular number one Keylor Navas returned, alongside centre-backs Marquinhos and Abdou Diallo and midfielder Danilo Pereira.
Everton loanee Moise Kean started up front but ex-United players Angel di Maria and Ander Herrera had to settle for places on the bench.
United got off to the worst possible start as Neymar gave PSG a sixth minute lead.
The Brazilian started the build up on the right before laying the ball off to Kylian Mbappe whose shot deflected off Victor Lindelof to Neymar who was free to convert on the right edge of the six-yard box.
And it might have got worse soon after when a 30-yard drive from Alessandro Florenzi brought a flying save from David De Gea.
United were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men mid-half when Fred escaped with a yellow card after clearly looked to have head butted Leandro Parades. It came during an altercation which followed Bruno Fernandes being accidentally elbowed.
The incident was checked by VAR Marco Guida who deferred judgement instructing referee Daniele Orsato to view the pitchside monitor.
And to the astonishment of PSG coach Thomas Tuchel produced a yellow card when he had been anticipating red as he motioned it was a head butt.
United needed a lift and they received that with a fortuitous 32nd minute equaliser.
Anthony Martial ran at the PG defence and his shot forced a decent save from Keylor Navas.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka retrieved the loose ball and cut it back to Marcus Rashford whose shot took a massive deflection off Danilo to leave Navas rooted to the spot.
Rashford was credited with his ninth goal of the season but it will be interesting to see whether it will be taken away from him when viewed again.
Fred and Scott McTominay were both lucky to escape further punishment following challenges ln Parades and Neymar which looked worse when replayed.
And Neymar was clearly unhappy as the players left the field as he looked to content McTominay following their run-ins.
Martial was left looking at the heavens after missing a relative sitter to put United ahead soon after the restart.
Rashford and Cavani combined to set up the Frenchman who blazed over from 10 yards when free in front of goal.
United were desperately unlucky not to find the net again when Cavani, spotting Navas off his line, chipped the goalkeeper from 25 yards only to see the ball hit the bar.
Fernandes, following up, cut the ball back to Martial whose goalbound shot was brilliantly blocked by Marquinhos.
After enjoying an excellent spell, United were lucky not to fall behind mid-half when Marquinhos’ looping header hit the bar. It floated a floated cross to the far post from Florenzi.
And there was another escape moments later when David De Gea pulled off a brilliant saved to deny substitute Mitchel Bakker.
There was no reprieve from Neymar’s resulting corner as PSG regained the lead.
McTominay headed the ball clear, substitute Herrera’s drive was flying wide but found Abdou Diallo who squared a pass for Marquinhos to slot home from four yards.
The night unravelled further one minute later when Fred was dismissed for his second yellow card, a foul on Herrera.
Solskjaer’s response was to make three changes in quick succession bringing on Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Donny van de Beek for Rashford, Martial and Cavani.
The 10 men created chances as Pogba volleyed just over and Fernandes headed straight at Navas.
PSG were deadly on the counter attack as Mbappe fired just wide when Neymar was better placed to his right.
United threw on another striker as Odion Ighalo replaced right-back Wan-Bissaka.
And they were caught again on the break in stoppage time as PSG put the game to bed.
Neymar began the break from defence and after involvement from Mbappe and Rafinha he was on hand to finish from six yards. It was game over for United.