PSG down Man City 4-2 in pulsating Champions League clash

MANCHESTER, England, Oct 14 : Twice-defending champions Paris St Germain beat Manchester City 4-2 in a pulsating Champions League encounter on Wednesday, their devastating first-half display proving decisive against a City side playing under a cloud of scrutiny.

On a breathless night featuring 46 goals, Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick in Liverpool's 6-3 thrashing of LASK, Aston Villa recorded the biggest European victory in their history with a 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce and Real Madrid staged a stunning late comeback to beat AS Roma 4-3.

But no fixture carried more intrigue than the Etihad clash, where City played their first home game since being found guilty of 114 breaches of financial rules.

City, who have denied all wrongdoing and appealed the verdict, were carved open by PSG in the first half.

PSG'S FIRST-HALF BLITZ

Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele scored less than two minutes apart before Warren Zaire-Emery's clever touch released Vitinha to drive the third beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 32nd minute.

City emerged transformed after the break and Erling Haaland headed in Iliman Ndiaye's cross in the 53rd minute to become the fastest player to reach 60 Champions League goals, hitting the landmark in 60 games compared with Lionel Messi’s previous record of 80.

City's joy was short-lived as Maghnes Akliouche's stunning long-range strike found the net despite Donnarumma getting a hand to it.

Haaland had the City fans on their feet when he swept home Ayyoub Bouaddi's pass in the 75th minute for his second, before Donnarumma made up for his blunder by saving a penalty from Ferran Torres.

The match unfolded against an "us against the world" backdrop, with City fans in the South Stand holding up cards that read "CTID" (City