PSG scored two second half goals to secure a 2-0 win against a subdued Manchester United in the first leg of their Uefa Champions League round of 16 tie at Old Trafford.
In the absence of injured duo Neymar Jr. and Edison Cavani, Kylian Mbappe led PSG’s attack, while Angel Did Maria also started on his first return to Old Trafford.
Both sides needed the first part of the opening half to size each other up and fashioned out one chance apiece. Di Maria, booed all night, curled wide for PSG, while Pogba dribbled his way to the box from the byline but his low cross was smothered, and Rashford’s snap volley was diverted by 41-year-old veteran goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.
The Parisians, however, burst into life afterwards through another wonderkid, Mbappe. The young World Cup winner toasted a defender for pace and also had a goal marginally ruled out for offside as Tuchel seemed content to picking moments for his wards to pick United apart.
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The end to the half took a feisty turn with cards flying for both sides, and both Presnel Kimpembe and Ashley Young could have been given red cards for cynical challenges in a scrappy end to the half.
No French team has won at Old Trafford in European competitions but PSG took a deserved lead eight minutes after the interval from a corner kick won after De Gea diverted an Mbappe header away. Kimpembe met the delivery at the back post with a volley for a deserved lead. The visitors were creating chances with ease and doubled their lead through the impressive Mbappe who slide in tormentor-in-chief, Di Maria’s low cross under De Gea for his fourth goal in Europe this season.
Paul Pogba has been resurgent in recent weeks under interim manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but he was abysmal in this encounter and his night ended with a red card minutes from the end.
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The loss is Solskjaer’s first in twelve games as interim manager of the Red Devils. The second leg comes up on the 6th of March.
RESULTS
Manchester United 0-2 PSG
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AS Roma 2-1 FC Porto
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