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Champions League: Leipzig loses unhappy in Paris – sport

On the evening of a bright late summer’s day, which was an urgent invitation to drink champagne on the summit of the Eiffel Tower, RB Leipzig only administered bitter medicine by means of self-medication. After capital mistakes by Tyler Adams and Mohamed Simakan, the Leipzigers gave up a 2-1 lead in their third Champions League group game at Paris Saint-Germain – and lost a game that they shouldn’t have lost, 2-3 . Despite a poor performance, Lionel Messi became the PSG hero of Tuesday – among other things through a Panenka-style penalty that meant victory. Leipzig remains in last place in group A with zero points. However, your hopes of hibernating in Europe have not yet been completely destroyed. Also because Manchester City won 5-1 in the second Group A match at Club Bruges.

After conceding eight goals from two games, coach Jesse Marsch had chosen a line-up that read defensively. The “chain of seven” that he had joked about the night before didn’t seem that far removed from reality. But: Leipzig displayed an aggressiveness that posed greater problems for Paris Saint-Germain than the overwhelming possession of the ball (72:28 percent at halftime; almost 70:30 percent at the end) suggested. PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino, on the other hand, had to cope with a number of failures. The most spectacular absences: Neymar complained of adductor problems and watched the game in the official gallery; Mauro Icardi signed off with lovesickness because his wife Wanda thought a couple of WhatsApp messages from a lady needed explanation. That cleared the way for an old friend from the Bundesliga: Julian Draxler. And instead of the Italian European champion Gianluigi Donnarumma, Keylor Navas was in goal. Who has, who has.

Navas was quickly in focus, there was more going on in both penalty areas than in the Paris metro. In the second minute, Navas had to fend off a Konrad Laimer shot that had been cleared in the penalty area after a bad pass by Marco Verratti. Then André Silva tested the former Real Madrid goalkeeper (8th). But the lead was achieved by PSG (9th). Messi disturbed André Silva in his own penalty area – possibly illegally – via Julian Draxler the ball went to Kylian Mbappé, who shot flat after a hip wobble through Willi Orban’s legs: 1-0.

The hit gave the game a deceptive calm. Because Leipzig remained dangerous, especially after actions on the left side, where Angeliño and Amadou Haidara had the former BVB professional Achraf Hakimi and Messi under control. After a free-kick from Angeliño, RB defender Nordi Mukiele spiked the ball into the six-yard box, but PSG captain Marquinhos nudged it over the crossbar of his own goal (26 ‘). Afterwards André Silva only hit the post (27th). Another minute later, the Portuguese scored the 1-1 equalizer. Christopher Nkunku recognized the disorder in the PSG defense, played on the unprotected Angeliño, who in turn served André Silva with a pass in the back of the defense in an exemplary manner: The Portuguese thrashed into the goal without mercy to equalize.

After the break, the previously invisible Lionel Messi sent out signs of life. But just as he seemed to be blowing on a period of urgency for the Parisians, Leipzig reported with a remarkable attack that led to 2-1. Again the ball was passed to Angeliño to the left – and the Spaniard had enough time to carefully chip the ball into the six-yard area. Mukiele scored to make it 2-1 (57th).

But the Leipzig euphoria did not last long. First, Tyler Adams made a big blunder: Pressed by Hakimi, he played the ball towards his own goal, which is not a good idea when it says Mbappé. The French played back to Messi, who knew no mercy from 12 meters. Then Mohamed Simakan awkwardly fouled Mbappé – and Messi lifted the penalty into the goal. Kylian Mbappé even missed the chance to make it 4-2 in stoppage time. Because he hit a penalty (after VAR decision) towards the Eiffel Tower summit.

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