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Game scenes: The Champions League game between RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain was not lacking in speed, the technical level was also attractive. But, aside from some early Paris opportunities, it was safe. Two penalty shootouts at hand, one on each side, finally secured the most exciting moments. The guests forgave, the Leipzigers seized their opportunity and won the game.
Outcome: Leipzig benefited from a penalty in the second half against Paris, which Emil Forsberg used to make it 2-1 (minute 57). In Group H, the Bundesliga club is second with six points because Manchester United have a better goal difference despite their loss to Basaksehir. PSG is third with three points.
Dull Parisians: The list of injured was long by the guests, and not only the signing of Neymar was canceled. Also there were Kylian Mbappé, Mauro Icardi, Marco Verratti and German international Julian Draxler. The absence of these top performers was notable, although initially it seemed that Paris was also playing substitutes in a different class than Leipzig.
The first half: Leipzig fell behind in the sixth minute when central defender Dayot Upamecano lost a duel with Moise Kean, who was preparing for Ángel Di María (sixth minute). On the other hand, PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas showed an outstanding save against Amadou Haidara from close range (8th). In return, his Leipzig counterpart Péter Gulácsi scored a penalty from Di María (16th). On two occasions the last pass from the Parisians came too late, goals from Di María (38th) and Sarabia (40th) were whistled back for offside before Christopher Nkunku made it 1-1 with a low shot from the front of the area (42º).
Old love: When he was 13 years old, Nkunku, who grew up just a half-hour drive from Paris, joined the youth department of the French serial champion. Against his hometown club, the 22-year-old often volunteered in the opposite half, but he also made defensive runs and pressed 90 minutes. And then there was his individual action to compensate.
Finally equal: He expects “a lot of pressure” and a more offensive approach overall from his former protégé’s team, Tuchel said before the game. In Augsburg, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann, 47, saw his opponents after his career ended. It was the beginning of the talented coach’s career. In the Bundesliga, teachers and students met twice – a draw, a victory for Tuchel – Nagelsmann had no chance with RB two and a half months ago against Tuchel’s PSG. In the vote for Europe’s coach of the year, the youngest was third ahead of the oldest. Now it has also won the direct comparison.
The second half: The Parisians were no longer able to free themselves from Nagelsmann’s pressure so well. After winning the ball, the paths were short for RB, after quick combinations they entered the third attack, for example when Forsberg charged Danilo Pereira, but then shot over the goal (53.) Shortly after, a cross from Angelino to the Swede flew into the penalty area, but too far. But Forsberg, and all his teammates as well, raised their arms in complaints, and they were right. Presnel Kimpembe took the ball in hand, Forsberg converted the penalty (57.).
Doubly stupid: After falling behind, the game was completely derailed for the guests. Due to playing Haidara with the sole open, Idrissa Gueye saw his second yellow card and flew off the field (69th). Outnumbered, PSG only managed a little, on top of that, Kimpembe finished off his decisive handball in the game with a forceful tackle in injury time: from behind he jumped at Yussuf Poulsen in the legs and saw yellow-red (90. + 5). A red card would have been nice here too.
Question of opinion: Former Schalke Thilo Kehrer entered the game in the 73rd minute, with his team already 1: 2 behind. After the halftime break, his team “just lost control” and no longer played intelligently, said the 24-year-old German international on Sky. Paris caught the “frenetic style of play” from the hosts. From their point of view, the event may have seemed hectic, but the Leipzigers pushed hard, but above all with objectivity and concentration. Obviously, that was too fast for Kehrer.