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They set the pace and played the game, but in the end against the Saxons as losers in the Parisian Prinzenpark square. The reason for this was a controversial decision by the referee.
A dubious penalty from superstar Neymar prevented RB Leipzig from crowning a good performance in the Champions League. Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team defeated Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 on Tuesday and thus lost the direct comparison with the French champions after 2-1 in the first leg. This means that the Saxons have to worry about making progress again in the premier class.
Neymar’s goal of the night (11th minute) gave his coach Thomas Tuchel, who was being criticized, a respite despite the sometimes surprisingly weak performance. Leipzig must now win the remaining two group matches in Istanbul Basaksehir and against Manchester United to advance to the knockout round.
RB Mintzlaff boss: “You don’t have 50 chances here”
“We played a very, very good match. We were the best team for long periods. So of course it’s very bitter if you don’t get rewarded for such an excellent performance in last year’s finalists,” said Leipzig Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff, to the television network. Sky and added: “You don’t have 50 chances here. The ones you have, you have to put in. But I can’t blame the team.”
Nagelsmann also responded with an offense upon the return of superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. In front of the trio of midfielders Emil Forsberg, Dani Olmo and Christopher Nkunku, he also let Yussuf Poulsen break in. But first he put the crash in his own penalty area. After a clumsy duel between Marcel Sabitzer and Angel Di Maria, referee Danny Makkelie decided on a penalty, which Neymar converted with a bit of luck.
After that, the finalist from the previous season fell completely into passivity, leaving Leipzig to play and chances. Sabitzer’s shot (12th) was deflected to a corner and a header from Dayot Upamecano cleared PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the same minute. In the first round alone, RB had more than 60 percent possession of the ball, quickly conquering the ball over and over again through first-class counterpressures. The best idea, which Nagelsmann had called decisive before the game, clearly had his team. But then, there was often a lack of spirit in the last actions, the defense of Paris rarely had to stop dangerous races.
Leipzig keeps the pressure high in the second half
After one of the few successful combinations, Yussuf Poulsen (36th) showed too poor shooting technique and chased the ball from eleven meters into the Parisian evening sky. Navas cleared a shot from Haidara (38th) with a bit of difficulty, while Forsberg’s volley (45th + 1) from close range did not have to intervene.
The same pressure from Leipzig continued after the change. Forsberg (49th) returned on a volley, missing the goal by a few inches. Two minutes later, a shot by Sabitzer passed. The Austrian had to endure a moment of shock after Mbappé accidentally jumped onto his forearm with full swing in a duel.
Nagelsmann reacted tactically, bringing Willi Orban a third central defender and switching to a three-man chain. Justin Kluivert replaced Olmo and should put more pressure on the right wing. A second striker arrived at Alexander Sörloth during the final 15 minutes. Leipzig pushed the Parisians, who were confined entirely to counterattacks, further back, but ultimately ran out of luck.
