Manchester City are into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time after Kevin de Bruyne’s late strike sealed a thrilling win over Paris St-Germain.
After so many years looking on enviously as their neighbours enjoyed the glory, Manchester City have finally taken their place at European football’s top table.
Years of planning, millions spent in the transfer market and several false dawns, they are in the last four of the Champions League.
And boss Manuel Pellegrini can continue dreaming of a glorious farewell in Milan on May 28.
For a long time on a nervy night it looked as if City might scramble through by virtue of a goalless draw – until Kevin De Bruyne broke the stalemate with a goal that underlined his quality and just why City made him British football’s second-most expensive player last summer.
It was his 15th and most valuable strike of the season and came against the club who competed so hard with City for his signature.
Sergio Aguero could have made it a lot easier for City had he converted a first-half penalty. And City suffered a double frustration at that moment because they felt Paris-Saint Germain keeper Kevin Trapp should have been sent off for his trip on Aguero.
Playing on the high plateau of European football along with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich – if the latter two should get through their ties this evening – was always the target when Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour started ploughing his money into the club in 2008.
Some of the signings along the way have been questionable but not De Bruyne. As well as his 15 goals, he has 14 assists and City look so much better with him in the team.
But there were other City heores. Joe Hart made saves from two Zlatan Ibrahimovic free-kicks and from Thiago Motta and Edinson Cavani as City became only the second Premier League club – after Chelsea in 2014 – to reach the last four since 2012.
City came flying out of the blocks but PSG remained unruffled and enjoyed a long spell of possession. Ibrahimovic burst into life for the first time with a long-range free-kick that was dipping under the bar before a fingertip save by Hart.
It took City until midway through the half to threaten the PSG goal, with Aguero twice firing wide. The Argentinian looked dangerous from the first minute but there was a sense of shock all round the stadium when he fired wide from the penalty spot after half an hour.
He had won the penalty when tripped by Trapp’s outstretched leg.
Normally so reliable from 12 yards, this time he put his effort a foot wide – and his head into his hands.
Referee Carlos Carballo then only cautioned Trapp, reasoning Aguero was going away from goal and also factoring in that Serge Aurier – whose mistake had put his team in trouble – looked as if he might get back to cover a shot on goal.
Aguero then needed treatment after landing heavily on his right ankle but much to City’s relief he was able to continue.
Ibrahimovic had been fairly quiet but underlined his shooting prowess with another superbly-struck free-kick early in the second half. Again Hart proved his equal, diving to his right to tip the shot away.
City continued to endure some nervy moments and were hugely relieved when Cavani had a goal disallowed for offside. They enjoyed some brief respite when Fernando headed wide from a Jesus Navas corner but with time starting to run out, Laurent Blanc sacrificed defender Aurier to increase his attacking options by sending on Javier Pastore – and Hart saved from Thiago Motta and Cavani.
But City came through the spell to grab the lead thank to De Bruyne. He picked the ball up on the edge of the penalty area, made space for a shot before curling his effort just inside the post.
It was a goal that would have graced any of Europe’s big stages. To compound PSG’s frustration Ibrahimovic had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside but it was City’s night.
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