Elimbi Gilbert denies Manchester City late at Joie Stadium in Women's Champions League clash
On 29 October 2026, Tara Elimbi Gilbert scored a late equaliser for Paris Saint-Germain at the Joie Stadium to deny Manchester City victory in their Women's Champions League meeting; City had believed they had won when Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw converted an 85th-minute penalty.
Manchester City's failure to secure three points extended their run to a third successive draw in the competition and left their hopes of finishing in the top four looking precarious, with the club still searching for a first European win this season; before kick-off they occupied 11th place in the group table, one spot above the final qualification position. PSG approached the game having sat out an early City storm and are noted in domestic competition as sitting second in the French top flight, three points behind OL Lyonnes.
City started brightly and created the clearest openings in the first half: Aoba Fujino's third-minute cross picked out Shaw, whose header dropped wide at the far post, and Shaw later flashed a low shot narrowly wide after play from Lauren Hemp. Despite controlling possession in parts, City failed to trouble PSG goalkeeper Oliwia Peda in the early stages, while the atmosphere at the Joie Stadium was described as fairly quiet.
After the restart Fujino again went close when she met Kerstin Casparij's pass but shot over, and she also had a strike blocked by Thiniba Samoura as City began to ask tougher questions of PSG. Manager Andrée Jeglertz reacted just after the hour with a triple substitution, introducing Mary Fowler, Iman Beney and Niamh Charles for Grace Clinton, Casparij and Rebecca Knaak respectively, with Alex Greenwood moving inside to centre-back as Charles occupied an attacking left-back role.
The changes increased City's attacking momentum: Shaw's powerful low effort was turned behind by Peda for a corner, Greenwood's delivery found Shaw with a free header she failed to connect with, Fowler scuffed a chance wide and Shaw headed another opportunity off target. Shaw then won a spot-kick after being brought down by Griedge Mbock Bathy and converted the penalty low to the keeper's right.
Conceding shortly after their lead galvanised PSG, who struck back within three minutes when substitute Tara Elimbi Gilbert finished from close range to level. PSG's set-up through players such as Jackie Groenen in midfield and Mbock Bathy at centre-back had kept City at bay for long periods, while Jennifer Echegini, noted in the report as a deadline-day transfer target for City in September, impressed for the visitors.
Elsewhere in the Women's Champions League group phase, holders Barcelona beat HB Køge 8-0 with a first-half penalty from Caroline Graham Hansen and a goal from Ewa Pajor followed by second-half strikes from Esmee Brugts, Patri Guijarro, Clara Serrajordi, Kika Nazareth and a brace from Clàudia Pina, leaving Barcelona top of the group stage with three wins and a 19-2 aggregate score. Juventus recovered to beat Austria Vienna 4-1 after Matilde Pavan and Alba Redondo gave Juve the lead, Lotta Cordes pulled one back with 12 minutes remaining and Kysha Sylla and Júlia Bartel scored in the final nine minutes; Juventus sit fifth, a point shy of the last automatic quarter-final qualification place while Austria Vienna are 15th and two points off the playoffs. Paris FC and Häcken drew after Anna Anvegard scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Evelyne Viens' early opener, leaving both clubs outside the playoff positions.
City's next confirmed fixture is a WSL trip this Sunday to face London City Lionesses, who are described in the report as having Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas and sitting one place and three points behind Manchester City in the WSL standings.
