Can anyone stop PSG from winning a third straight Champions League?

For 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, Paris Saint-Germain looked almost impossible to stop, racing into a 3-0 half-time lead before eventuallysecuring a thrilling and chaotic 4-2 victory, delivering another statement of their European credentials. The match was also City's first home game since an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules, a verdict the club is appealing.

Having won the Champions League in each of the past two seasons, beating Inter Milan and Arsenal in the finals respectively, PSG are now bidding to become the first team since Real Madrid completed their three-peat in 2018 to win three consecutive titles in the competition's modern era. Their remarkable squad depth was underlined by Joao Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia both starting on the bench against City, highlighting the wealth of options available to their experienced Spanish manager.

However, the Citizens' second-half response showed that even the defending champions can be troubled, with Erling Haaland scoring twice as the hosts threatened an unlikely comeback, while the six-goal thriller contributed to a record-breaking Champions League matchday, with 78 goals scored across 18 fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday. With that in mind, Sports Mole assesses whether PSG can win a third straight Champions League title and, if not, how their European rivals can stop them.

Rather than relying on one individual to produce moments of brilliance, Luis Enrique's side use quick passing and intelligent movement to create openings, while their ability to press aggressively after losing possession makes them an exhausting opponent to face. Manchester City struggled to cope with that intensity before the break, as PSG repeatedly found ways through City's defensive unit to build a commanding advantage.

The quality available to Enrique is another major reason why the French giants are so well placed to challenge for a third consecutive European crown. The fact that Neves and Kvaratskhelia were both left out of the starting XI against City highlights the competition for places, with the Spaniard able to call upon players capable of changing a match without necessarily altering his team's overall approach.

However, Bradley Barcola's summer move to Liverpool has cost PSG a proven attacking option, with the Frenchman underlining his quality byscoring a hat-trick against LASKjust hours before the champions beat Manchester City, meaning Enrique must ensure his remaining forwards continue to deliver when the pressure increases. Even so, the blend of technical quality, tactical discipline and depth at Enrique's disposal makes the reigning champions an extremely difficult side to dislodge.

The Citizens emerged after the interval with greater urgency and intensity, with Haaland scoring twice as the hosts threatened to turn a seemingly hopeless contest into a genuine fight for points, while their former manager Pep Guardiola watched from the stands. The Premier League side finished with almost twice as many shots as PSG and recorded a higher xG total, showing how dramatically the balance of the match shifted after half-time.

The attempted comeback will offer encouragement to future opponents, particularly those capable of bypassing PSG's press and exploiting the space left behind when their defenders push forward. Enrique's side are at their most dangerous when they dictate the tempo and force opponents into mistakes, but they can be more vulnerable when possession is lost and the opposition attacks quickly into open areas.

The challenge for PSG's rivals will be to withstand their early pressure without becoming too passive before taking advantage of any defensive uncertainty. Enzo Maresca 's side ultimately failed to complete the comeback, but their response suggests that the French outfit's pursuit of another European title may not be as straightforward as their first-half display initially implied.