In the dying minute, Zlatan Ibrahimovic laid a body check on Nicolas Otamendi, a snapshot of the giant frustrating wasteland the striker, indeed the whole PSG attack had wandered into like some lost Israelite tribe. Angel Di Maria disappeared in the second half, Edinson Cavani, a game trier was shackled, and Lucas Moura, bringing zest went into lone ranger mode.
The much maligned City defence were the real story. Eliaquim Mangala and Otamendi were rarely breached while Gael Clichy and Bakary Sagna cleaned up the flanks. There was no escape for the Paris club who herded down tunnel like into the middle with the inevitable breakdown. As an outlet, Ibra is now bereft of all reflexes or shame or both, standing offside to have any chance at getting anywhere close to the ball. Two goals were called back. People call it stupid. It’s just Ibra. There were his two free kicks, one which almost sneaked over Joe Hart but the goalie put out a timely hand and saw out the threat. Other than that, it just seemed one of the most recognizable faces in the game was going through the motions. More importantly from a PSG perspective, reversing the perception of a flat track bully stalling on the big occasion.
Both sides are remarkably similar, big money propping them up, star names bought outright, and a recent track record of league success. The difference is the Premier League is very adept at administering reality checks. City played like a side that took nothing for granted. PSG played as if their opponents would crumble at the very sight of seeing Zlatan lazily strolling up front while doing dummy ninja kicks. This was as flat a performance even accounting for the absence of some key players like Blaise Matuidi (suspension), Marco Verratti (injury), and Thiago Motta (unable to continue with a first half injury).
A goalless draw would have sufficed to see City through but as the match wore on, with PSG rarely mounting any meaningful threat, it was City taking charge with Aguero leading the way. The pint sized Argentinian was brought down by Kevin Trapp in the box but with fans salivating, the striker banjaxed his chance, flashing just wide. It was an awful miss. Fortunately, the Blues have their back up plan once again. Kevin De Bruyne has hit the ground running after his injury and his second half goal provided insurance. It was a Kevin De Bruyne sort of strike, no dilly dallying, long distance, plenty of power and bend (Arsenal take note). City go onto the CL semi-finals for the first time in their history while PSG are becoming a bit predictably Arsenal like with their fourth quarter final exit in a row.
De Bruyne’s goal: