Wednesday, November 03, 2021
Elfer bad luck is followed by eleven jubilation
Leipzig cannot be beaten by PSG
The first point win of the current Champions League season is not enough for RB Leipzig to prevent premature elimination. In the second leg against Paris St. Germain, the Bundesliga club only missed the chance to lead two goals, then fell behind and was allowed to cheer late.
Big fight, but the miracle did not materialize: RB Leipzig wrested a draw from the star ensemble from Paris St. Germain, but the knockout round in the Champions League is out of reach ahead of time. Jesse Marsch’s team came to a 2: 2 (1: 2) after a courageous performance against PSG, but more than one winter in the Europa League is no longer possible.
The ripped-off star ensemble from Paris, who had to do without their ailing savior Lionel Messi, met Georginio Wijnaldum (21./40.) By double packer and is on course for the round of 16. Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku (8th) had initially scored against his ex-club, Andre Silva (12th) failed from the penalty spot. Substitute Dominik Szoboszlai made it better from the point (90th + 2).
Two weeks ago, RB had lost in Paris, at 2: 3 Messi had hit twice. The Argentine’s injury-related failure was “irrelevant” before kick-off, then Neymar, Di Maria and Mbappe will play. In fact, guest coach Mauricio Pochettino offered the three-man storm predicted by Marsch. The American Marsch himself trusted center forward Silva instead of Yussuf Poulsen, who last scored twice in a row in the league. Emil Forsberg also played for Szoboszlai. For the first time since the round of 16 against Tottenham Hotspur in March 2020, almost 40,000 spectators in the Leipzig stadium ensured the mood for the European Cup. “Now at home is a great opportunity,” said Marsch before the game. He wanted his team to be “more aggressive and of higher quality” – and they started off like a charm.
Paris is always lurking on the counterattack
With poisonous pressing, RB ensured early playback errors among the guests and then switched over like a raid. Early on, Silva found the approaching Nkunku with a dream flank, who headed in for the lead. Paris was completely out of place, a few minutes later Silva was fouled in the penalty area. The Portuguese took over himself, but failed because of his former Milan teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma.
After 5-0 shots on goal for Leipzig in the first 20 minutes, PSG came out of nowhere to equalize. After a dream combination about Angel Di Maria, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, Wijnaldum only had to insert. The game became more mixed up, fouls on both sides created a heated atmosphere on and off the field. Marsch complained on the sidelines with so many gestures that referee Andreas Ekberg warned him with a yellow card.
With his second goal, Wijnaldum turned the game completely upside down, the former Liverpool player had not scored at all for PSG since his move. Due to the lack of breaks, Marsch was forced to take a risk. Amadou Haidara replaced defender Willi Orban after half-time.
PSG left Leipzig more of the game and waited for the counterattack. Mbappe (52nd / 64th) missed twice in front of Peter Gulacsi, on the other side the hosts bucked again against the end. Substitute Szoboszlai (72nd) had the equalizer on the foot, but forgave free standing from eleven meters. With the ball resting after a Paris foul, the Hungarian made it better.