Unbeaten City held to third successive Champions League draw

City were on top for large parts on home soil but against a strong and sturdy PSG side, the Blues couldn’t find a way through in the opening 45 minutes.

Andrée Jeglertz’s side were relentless in the second half but looked like we wouldn’t find an all-important goal until Bunny Shaw fired us in front from the penalty spot with four minutes left to play.

But the visitors responded instantly when Tara Elimbi Gilbert slotted the ball under Ayaka Yamashita to see the spoils shared at the Joie Stadium as we made it three successive UEFA Champions League draws.

WHAT HAPPENED

It was another special night under the lights at the Joie as City and Paris Saint-Germain went head-to-head for the first time ever.

An early warning shot from Shaw saw her glancing header drift wide less than three minutes into the first half.

Naomie Feller returned fire on 12 minutes as PSG enjoyed a short spell of momentum.

Possession flipped again with City next to go for goal. Shaw fired inches wide with a fantastic half volley from the edge of the PSG box before Lauren Hemp also saw her effort fly just outside the post.  

Despite dominating the final 10 minutes of the half, City didn’t register a shot on target until Rebecca Knaak’s header from a corner, which was the final touch before the break.

Jeglertz’s side continued to be the brighter outfit, but it was PSG who went closest to striking gold early in the second half as Sakina Karchaoui whipped a free-kick a whisker over the bar just before the hour.

Shaw forced an incredible low save from Oliwia Peda on 65 minutes with the City striker firing a low, right-footed shot across the PSG goal only for the shotstopper to stick out a hand.

Fowler then saw her effort roll inches wide of the right post, but even if it had hit the back of the PSG net, Shaw teed up the Australia international from an offside position.

City were piling on the pressure and it was Shaw again with the next chance but her header went the wrong side of the back post after a teasing cross by Hemp.

The Jamaica international wouldn’t be denied again as she converted from 12 yards, after winning the penalty kick on 86 minutes after bursting down the byline.

It seemed like that would seal our first win of the League Phase, but Elimbi Gilbert’s equaliser from the near post two minutes after the restart means City remain unbeaten but still searching for our first European win in 2026/27.

KNAAK IS BACK

It was a welcomed sight to see our German defender back in the starting line-up, her first since our 4-0 FA Cup win over Brighton last season.

Knaak featured at centre-back for an hour, helping keep PSG’s attack at bay before a deserved break as she continues to build back to full fitness.

A vital asset returns at a key time and will be sure to play a big part in the coming months.

CONSISTENCY

A big positive for City is that we remain unbeaten in all competitions.

That is 10 games without defeat. 

You have to go back to April since our last defeat, a 3-2 loss at Brighton, which shows just how difficult the Blues are to break down.

HOW WE LINED UP

CITY XI | Yamashita, Casparij (Beney 61’), Rose, Knaak (Charles 61’), Greenwood, Blindkilde Brown, Hasegawa, Fujino, Clinton (Fowler 61’), Hemp, Shaw

SUBS | Cumings, Moorhouse, Lohmann, Prior, Wamser, Lewis, Burdon

PSG | Peda, Isabela, Chagas (Jourde 79’), Mbock Bathy, Samoura, Olga Carmona, Morrissaint (Kanjinga 65’), Osteras, Groenen, Karchaoui (Le Guilly 79’), Feller, Echegini

SUBS | Groothoff, Toussaint, Vitoria Yaya, Elimbi Gilbert, Le Roux, Lafontaine.

WHAT IT MEANS

City have three points after three games played and three left to go against Inter Milan, BK Hacken and Austria Wien.

UP NEXT

City hit the road this weekend as our focus shifts back to the Barclays Women’s Super League.

We travel to London City Lionesses on Sunday 1 November, with kick-off set for 12:00 (UK), in what will be an exciting clash that will see second take on third.