RB Leipzig has lost its good starting position in the difficult Group H of the Champions League. Coach Nagelsmann’s team lost 1-0 at Paris St. Germain after a goal by Neymar (11th minute, penalty kick). As a result of the defeat, Leipzig dropped to third place before Paris (six points each) and leaders Manchester United (nine points) before the last two match days. PSG, on the other hand, prevented an early elimination in the group stage in a disappointing game due to the somewhat lucky win.
The Leipzig team undoubtedly dominated the match, they were in possession of the ball for almost two thirds of the time, ran more and shot more often on goal. But despite this superiority against a defensive and rarely harmonious Paris team with the nominally best storm in Europe on that day, good scoring chances did not come out. One thing is certain after this missed chance from RB: The three-way battle for a place in the round of 16 between Manchester, Paris and Leipzig remains exciting until the last game day.
When asked whether he had the promise to have the backing of club boss Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sports director Leonardo in the event of a defeat against Leipzig, PSG coach Tuchel had found a nice formulation before the game that reflects reality in the equally ambitious how complicated club is likely to come close. “This is not necessary. If that were the case, I would be more insecure than if it weren’t, ”said the German coach of the French club under strong Arab and South American influence. “The two strikers from Paris cost twice as much as our entire squad,” said Nagelsmann about the two superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, who returned to the Paris starting XI for the first time after injuries against RB.
Since the final tournament of the Champions League in August, Paris had started in the national league without a break. And since then has had eight corona cases in the squad, which resulted in a permanent burden for those who remained. The game did not last a long time under greatly changed circumstances, as the big names and expectations promised in a duel between two teams who had faced each other three months ago for a place in the final. Paris were 1-0 up at the break, and that without having created a scoring chance. Neymar took advantage of a penalty that Sabitzer had violently caused to di Maria after Upamecano made another mistake in the build-up game. A foul by Sabitzer was not visible in the penalty area.
Except for this scene, there was nothing to be seen on PSG’s offensive with its top storm Neymar, Mbappé and di Maria. Tuchel’s team was content in the first half to make it difficult for Leipzig to appear dangerously in front of the goal. And Paris managed to do that pretty well, although Leipzig made a stronger impression, but it was only enough to score three chances by Sabitzer and Upamecano immediately after falling behind (12th) and by Forsberg (45th). But goalkeeper Navas only had to intervene once and had little trouble with Upamecano’s header. In the first leg, Leipzig was able to convert a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 win. In Paris, the turnaround did not succeed despite extensive superiority. Forsberg just failed in the 49th minute from the turn with a volley, which he only caught with the shin. In the final phase, Leipzig virtually constricted the summer finalists. But even if the pressure sometimes increased, Paris still managed relatively safely to bring its lead over the six-minute stoppage time.
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