Tuesday, October 19, 2021
RB annoys Paris for a long time
Messi’s casual lob takes away all hope from Leipzig
Without Neymar and “only” with Messi and Mbappé, Paris St. Germain seems short-beatable and RB Leipzig even sniffs the sensation for a moment. In the end, however, the Bundesliga club’s third bankruptcy in the third game is in the preliminary round of the Champions League. Even the Europa League is far away.
Bonjour Tristesse: RB Leipzig is about to end after a late gala appearance by Lionel Messi in the Champions League. In the star ensemble of Paris St. Germain, fighting Saxons lost 2: 3 (1: 1) despite numerous chances. Due to the third defeat in the third game, the pointless Leipzig have only a very small chance of the round of 16.
Kylian Mbappé (9th) and Messi (67th / 74th, penalty kick) sealed the bitter Leipzig bankruptcy with their goals, strikers Andre Silva (28th) and Nordi Mukiele (57th) scored for RB. Mbappé missed another penalty (90 + 4) in stoppage time. Leipzig remains last in group A. In front are PSG (seven points), Manchester City (six points) and Club Bruges (four points). Leipzig will next ask Paris to play the second leg on November 3rd (9 p.m. / DAZN). If one more defeat, it could all be over.
RB coach Jesse Marsch warned before the game that his team had to “defend hard” against Messi and Mbappé. The tactic initially paid off, Leipzig pressed early and repeatedly forced Paris to lose the ball in their own half – great opportunities were the result. Konrad Laimer (3rd) failed after an outrageous Parisian bad pass and strong preparatory work by Christopher Nkunku at PSG keeper Keylor Navas. Shortly afterwards, he fished a header from Silva (8th) with difficulty from the corner before parrying Laimer’s margin.
Draxler prepares the tour
Paris had previously been dangerous by Julian Draxler, who replaced Neymar, who was injured in the groin, but met in the middle of a strong phase for Leipzig. First, Messi captured the ball in his own penalty area, which immediately initiated the counterattack via Draxler. In a flash, the German found Mbappe, who scored inimitable against the movement of Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi from the edge of the penalty area.
Even if PSG often looked for Mbappe at the top, RB held up well after the deficit – and pressed for the equalizer. After a Leipzig free kick, PSG defender Marquinhos (25th) cleared just over his own crossbar, two minutes later Silva only hit the post from the spin. When Angelino then served him from the left penalty area position, the Portuguese could no longer miss and pushed in.
Before the break, Nkunku (42nd) almost got the Leipzig lead after a great dribble, only one and a half meters he circled the ball from 16 meters to the left of the goal. It was noticeable, even after half-time, that PSG only had a few big chances for a long time, because the Leipzig five-man chain closed the rooms.
And was even active at the front: After a first-class cross from Angelino, the rushing Mukiele drove the ball volley to lead into the net. Even after that, Leipzig needed help for Parisian opportunities, which they then take advantage of. After a mistake by Tyler Adams, Mbappe stormed forward, deliberately put down on Messi in the penalty area, who shot in hard. Minutes later, with more feeling, he lifted the penalty kick into the net – the Prinzenpark exploded.