Donnarumma Criticised After Man City 2-4 PSG Despite Late Penalty Save

FolioPitch.com – 15 October 2026 | Gianluigi Donnarumma endured a torrid evening against his former club as Manchester City suffered a 4-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. The Italy captain, who joined City from PSG in the summer, was heavily criticised after Man City 2-4 PSG despite late penalty save, with media outlets across Europe questioning his performance. Despite saving a 90th-minute penalty from Ferran Torres, Donnarumma’s overall display did little to silence his detractors.

City, managed by Enzo Maresca, were dismantled by the back-to-back European champions in a blistering first-half display. Donnarumma was beaten at his near post by a low, long-range effort from Désiré Doué in the 13th minute after a brilliant end-to-end team move. Less than two minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé nodded in a second for the visitors, leaving the home crowd stunned. Vitinha made it three shortly after the half-hour mark, while Achraf Hakimi had hit the woodwork moments earlier. The fourth PSG goal was the most unfortunate for Donnarumma: he initially appeared to make a strong one-handed save to Maghnes Akliouche’s shot from the edge of the area, which was destined for the top corner, but the spin of the ball after the save sent it bouncing back towards the City net, with the Italian scrambling unsuccessfully to paw it away.

A brace from Erling Haaland made for an eventual 4-2 scoreline, but there was a late consolation for Donnarumma as he kept out a 90th-minute penalty from PSG’s Ferran Torres. However, the save did little to mask what was a hectic night for the Italy national team captain, who earned scores of 4/10 and 5/10 from most media outlets after full-time. The Manchester Evening News gave him a score of 5/10, Sports Illustrated rated him at 5.4, and GOAL rated him 4/10, questioning his positioning for Vitinha’s opener and his organisation of the Manchester City back line. Newspapers in France were considerably harsher: L’Équipe gave him a rating of 2/10 and labelled him the ‘main culprit’ behind Man City’s defeat. The criticism was so intense that Donnarumma criticised after Man City 2-4 PSG despite late penalty save became a trending topic among football fans and pundits alike.

Donnarumma’s performance raised questions about his adaptation to City’s high defensive line and his command of the area. The 27-year-old, who was signed to replace Ederson, has shown flashes of brilliance but has also been prone to errors since his arrival. Against PSG, his former employers, the spotlight was always going to be intense, and he struggled to cope with the pace and precision of the French side’s attacking play. The first goal, in particular, highlighted a recurring issue: he was beaten at his near post from distance, a flaw that critics have pointed out throughout his career. The second goal, a header from Dembélé, saw him rooted to his line, while the third, a clinical finish from Vitinha, exposed poor positioning. The fourth was simply bad luck, but it summed up his night.

Despite the criticism, there were some who defended Donnarumma. His penalty save from Torres showed his shot-stopping ability, and he made a few other saves to keep the scoreline respectable. However, the overall consensus was that he had a night to forget. The defeat leaves Manchester City in a precarious position in the Champions League league phase, and questions will be asked about the team’s defensive solidity. Maresca will need to address these issues quickly if City are to progress in Europe’s elite competition.

Donnarumma criticised after Man City 2-4 PSG despite late penalty save is a headline that will haunt the Italian goalkeeper, but he has the character to bounce back. He has faced adversity before and emerged stronger. City fans will hope that this performance is a blip rather than a sign of things to come. The coming weeks will be crucial for both the player and the club as they look to recover from this setback.

In conclusion, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s return to face PSG ended in disappointment as Manchester City fell to a 4-2 defeat. Despite saving a late penalty, the Italian goalkeeper was heavily criticised for his role in the loss, with media outlets across Europe giving him low ratings. The defeat raises concerns about City’s defensive organisation and Donnarumma’s adaptation to his new surroundings. Only time will tell if he can silence his critics and prove his worth at the Etihad.