Paris stumble against Manchester

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Paris Saint-Germain slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League group stage opener.

Two months after the most beautiful European adventure in the club's history, Paris Saint-Germain heard the UEFA Champions League anthem again with Manchester United the visitors to the Parc des Princes. With Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappé and Angel Di Maria up front and Danilo Pereira making his debut in midfield, Thomas Tuchel's men looked to be ready for the challenge. 

With United playing on the counter-attack, Paris dominated possession, and they soon created chances. Di Maria sent a curling effort goalwards that David de Gea had to stretch to parry (11') before the Spain international goalkeeper then blocked Layvin Kurzawa's close-range effort (12').

But it was at the opposite end of the pitch that the match turned. Keylor Navas saved Bruno Fernandes' first effort from the penalty spot, but was beaten by the Portugal international's retaken effort (0-1, 23').

The Rouge-et-Bleu responded positively with Moise Kean coming on to give them a boost after the interval. Mbappé forced a fine save from De Gea after slaloming brilliantly into the box (47') and Kurzawa then struck the bar (53') before the capital club were finally rewarded when Anthony Martial put the ball into his own goal (1-1, 55').

A shot from Di Maria, Neymar Jr's dribbles, Mbappé's bursts forward, Kean's header, and another effort from Neymar Jr, the Parisians feverishly sought the breakthrough, but it was Marcus Rashford - having seen Navas deny him twice (68', 80') - who provided it, firing low into the far corner with time running out (1-2, 87e).

A opening-day defeat for Paris Saint-Germain, who now head to Istanbul to take on Basaksehir for their second group game next week.