On Wednesday, during Matchday 2 of the 2026-2027 Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain faced Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. After a match where the Rouge et Bleu dominated early on before enduring a difficult spell, they secured a 4-2 victory. Here are our ratings for the Parisian players.
Goalkeeper –
Matvey Safonov (7.5) – Make no mistake, Manchester City had their fair share of scoring chances too. Safonov did the job to help Paris hold firm, and there was little he could do about the goals conceded. He remained composed when coming off his line and playing the ball out from the back. His save against Haaland in the 81st minute—with the score at 4-2—was crucial.
Defenders –
Achraf Hakimi (6.5) – A fantastic first half; he was just a bit unlucky not to score, given his excellent contribution to the attack. Like the rest of the team, he found the second half more challenging.
Marquinhos (6.5) – He couldn’t prevent every goal, but he put in a great defensive shift during Manchester City’s spells of pressure.
Willian Pacho (6.5) – While not yet perfect, the Ecuadorian made more of an impact than in his recent outings.
Nuno Mendes (5.5) – A bit more subdued than some of his teammates, though he didn’t put a foot wrong; he did struggle somewhat in the second half.
Midfielders –
Vitinha (7) – We saw the return of Vitinha the maestro in the first half, and he scored a lovely goal. The second half was tougher as he faced waves of City attacks. Fabian Ruiz (6.5) – Impressive and providing an assist in the first half, the Spaniard struggled to make an impact in the second period. Replaced in the 83rd minute by Lucas Beraldo.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (7) – The Parisian academy graduate bossed the midfield in the first half; he also posed a threat and delivered a subtle backheel assist. The second half was tougher, though he didn’t fade completely. Replaced in the 83rd minute by Lucas Hernandez.
Forwards –
Maghnes Akliouche (7.5) – Impressively composed in his play and very active defensively; he also scored a goal with a lovely piece of skill. Replaced in the 75th minute by João Neves.
Ousmane Dembélé (7.5) – A superb first half featuring a goal and an assist; the second half, like for everyone else, was tougher. Replaced in the 75th minute by Ferran Torres.
Désiré Doué (8) – A top-class first half, involving great defensive work, a goal, and an assist. A performance confirming that he thrives on big nights. Replaced by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 65th minute.
Coach –
Luis Enrique (8?) – It is very hard to judge such a wild match, but PSG came out on top in a very difficult away fixture. How can one not be delighted? Especially with goals of such high quality.
