Once again it was Marcus Rashford, Paris and a famous victory for Manchester United.
As with 19 months ago, it was the England striker who scored the crucial goal to defeat Paris Saint-Germain. Back then it proved to be United’s best-ever display under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, earning him the manager’s job on a full-time basis, and this was undoubtedly their finest performance since.
It may have only been an opening Champions League group game, rather than a last-16 tie with a two-goal deficit to overcome, but it was another famous European night for United as they beat last season’s finalists. In doing so they inflicted PSG’s first home defeat in the group stages in 24 matches stretching back to 2004.
As with two seasons ago it rained heavily in the French capital, and although the atmosphere - in front of an empty stadium rather than a raucous band of soaked away supporters - was very different, United and Solskjaer will saviour it nonetheless, not least because the manager got his tactics, including not starting Paul Pogba, spot on.
“Last time it was a knock-out and it was euphoric, this is sterile without the fans but it’s excellent and we deserved to win,” Solskjaer said, before claiming it was actually a “better performance” than last time. It was also undeniably important for him given United’s stuttering start to the season, the pressure he is under and the importance of being back in the Champions League.
There were some crucial saves from David De Gea and an excellent performance from Axel Tuanzebe on his Champions League debut; incredibly, the injury-hit centre-half’s first appearance since facing Colchester United in the EFL Cup last December. This time he was up against Kylian Mbappe and the 22 year-old matched him stride for stride.
If Tuanzebe can stay fit then United have a solution in defence – and dare it be said they were actually better without the injured Harry Maguire - while Alex Telles was impressive on his debut at left wing-back and Aaron Wan-Bissaka simply outstanding on the other flank at what he does best: winning those one-on-one duels even when facing Mbappe and Neymar. Solskjaer got it right, especially in formation with three centre-halves and those wing-backs allowing Bruno Fernandes to join the two forwards.
One of those was Rashford. His previous goal at the Parc de Princes had been from the penalty spot, in the 94th minute to gain that astonishing 3-1 win, and he again struck late with just three minutes to go with a wonderful low shot to claim victory this time round.
It was from Pogba’s pass that Rashford accelerated quickly away from Danilo to create the space and drive the ball from just inside the area across goalkeeper Keylor Navas and in off the post. Replays show that Neymar - who had one of those nights - was actually walking away from the action as Rashford pounced.
As for those who have criticised Rashford for his laudable off-field campaigning and whether it has become a distraction, Solskjaer had the perfect answer: “When you’re happy on the pitch and you’re happy with what you’re doing off it they marry well together. I think it gives him energy what he does, I don’t think that’s a problem.”
Until they came alive in the second-half, PSG were poor and certainly appeared to miss their former captain Thiago Silva, who they allowed to leave on a free transfer to Chelsea. The fact Marquinhos was not fit to start made them even more vulnerable. It was his replacement, Abdou Diallo, who conceded the first-half penalty from which United claimed the lead as he rashly brought down Anthony Martial.
Fernandes, captain in Maguire’s absence, took the responsibility twice. Navas saved his first effort, before being pulled up for over-stepping his goal line and the midfielder calmly rolled in the re-take after the goalkeeper dived the other way. Fernandes certainly showed character having missed from the spot against Newcastle United at the weekend.
Before that De Gea had already made a couple of sharp saves to deny Angel Di Maria and Layvin Kurzawa and he excelled in parrying a curling shot from Mbappe after the forward finally beat Wan-Bissaka and Scott McTominay inside the United area.
Finally PSG found some momentum with Neymar scooping the ball to Kurzawa whose cross clipped the top of the bar before Wan-Bissaka intervened to stop Mbappe. From Neymar’s corner, PSG drew level in freakish circumstances as Martial - under no pressure - rose to glance a header past De Gea and into his own net.
Would there be an onslaught? Wan-Bissaka brilliantly blocked from Mbappe as the contest opened up and United also threatened. Already Rashford had broken clear only to try to pick out Martial when he could have gone for goal.
First Navas denied Rashford, reacting quickly to reach his low shot, before De Gea beat out a similarly-dangerous effort from Neymar who finally threatened.
What will have pleased United fans is that Solskjaer did not settle for the draw and his approach earned its reward through Rashford. It felt especially important as Group H – with RB Leipzig beating Istanbul Basaksehir – might be the tightest of all.