City vs PSG: Donnarumma faces his former club – live

By the PSG News newsroom · Published on 2026-10-14 · Updated on 2026-10-16 · psg · champions league · manchester city · donnarumma · luis enrique

The Champions League showdown is under way at the Etihad Stadium (9pm), refereed by Germany's Sven Jablonski. The line-ups are confirmed, and Manchester City have taken control of the ball from the outset against a reshuffled PSG side.

Sven Jablonski has got the game under way at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City have set the tone with long spells of possession right from the start. Anderson switches play to Semenyo (formerly of Bournemouth), who is well handled by Doué as he deflects the ball out for a throw-in, a sign of a tight opening in which space is at a premium. The Citizens are also pressing all over the pitch, with Haaland forcing Pacho to send a clearance straight into touch. Paris respond with a first attack led by Dembélé and Doué, but the alert Khusanov wins his duel with the Paris winger and earns the throw-in to applause from the crowd.

Starting XIs

UEFA have released the starting XIs. For City: Donnarumma – Khusanov, Dias (capt.), Guehi, Gvardiol – Anderson, Fernandez – Semenyo, Cherki, Doku – Haaland. Enzo Maresca makes three changes from the 3-0 win at Anfield: Gvardiol and Doku start on the left, O'Reilly and Ndiaye drop out, while Khusanov (formerly of Lens) gets the nod over Nunes at right-back. Haaland leads the line with Cherki in support, and Donnarumma starts in goal. Bouaddi and Rulli are on the bench.

For PSG: Safonov – Hakimi, Marquinhos (capt.), Pacho, Mendes – Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Ruiz – Akliouche, Dembélé, Doué. Luis Enrique brings eight players back compared with the 3-1 win over Le Mans: Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes, Vitinha, Ruiz, Doué and Dembélé return to the XI, and Zaïre-Emery is preferred to Neves in midfield. The surprise comes in attack: Akliouche starts, while Kvaratskhelia waits on the bench, as do Torres and Godts. Paris have a near full-strength squad, with only Mayulu missing.

Above all, this fixture marks Gianluigi Donnarumma's first reunion with PSG. The Italian goalkeeper, now in his second season with City after four years in Paris and a Champions League title won in 2025, came up against Dembélé and Doué twelve days ago in France–Italy (1-1) in the Nations League, putting in a standout performance.

City form

On the sporting front, City come into the game off the back of a masterclass at Liverpool (3-0) and top the Premier League with six wins from six matches. Foden, suspended for the last three league games, is available again on the European stage. In the background, however, the club is having to deal with major legal upheaval, having been found guilty of numerous financial breaches between 2009 and 2018, although this has not, for now, dented their momentum on the pitch.

Opening exchanges

The opening exchanges confirm a tight tactical battle: English control, cautious Paris transitions, and an intensity already palpable in the duels out wide.