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28 April 2021 Manchester City wins the first round of the sheikhs derby (Al-Khelaifi, Qatari owner of the French club, against the even richer Mansour Bin Zayed, Emirati head of the English company): at the 'Parco dei Principi', home of Paris Saint-Germain, very heavy 1-2 shot in comeback in the most fascinating first leg semi-final of the Champions League, a clash between European football battleships that try to collect in this edition the result of investments and dizzying purchases made in recent years. An important advantage for Guardiola's team in view of the return match, next Tuesday, within the friendly walls of the 'City of Manchester Stadium'.
Neymar immediately engages Ederson, at 15 'the hosts unblock it: Di Maria corner and winning detachment of the Brazilian central Marquinhos (also scored in Munich against Bayern in the quarterfinals). First start of the Citizens in the 21st minute: Cancelo cross, Bernardo Silva's acrobatic touch (not easy), Navas attentive. French still dangerous from a corner: this time it is Paredes, the ball is just out. The last chance of the first 45 'happens on Foden's feet: powerful but central left foot, Navas still reactive (42'). Overall better Pochettino's team, deservedly ahead.
A completely different music in the second half, in which the City significantly increases the laps: the acrobatic shot of the Belgian De Bruyne (61 ') does not fly much over the crossbar, who at 64' finds the equalizer with a conclusion at a lap from a non-transcendental distance crossing the whole area and surprising Navas (guilty) at the far post. At 71 'the English complete the turnaround: Mahrez on a free kick hole the little compact Parisian barrier (which opens) scoring the 1-2 that decides the game. Under a goal, at 77 'the PSG also remains outnumbered and surrenders: Gueye expelled for a very hard intervention on Gundogan.