PSG Claims Tough 3-2 Victory Against RB Leipzig
Paris St Germain (PSG) claimed a tough 3-2 come-from-behind victory against German side RB Leipzig in their UEFA Champions League encounter at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France.
The hosts started with Kylian Mbappe in attack, with Lionel Messi and Julian Draxler supporting on the flanks. Leipzig had Andre Sliva and Christopher Nkunku up front in a 3-5-2 formation as they looked to cause an upset.
The visitors pressed hard from the start and after eight minutes, PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas had already made three saves. However, PSG opened the scoring through Mbappe after nine minutes after the Frenchman dribbled past his marker before firing a low shot past Peter Gulacsi.
It was Mbappe’s first Champions League goal of the season. However, Leipzig did not back down and in the 27th minute Silva’s volley crashed against Navas’ left-hand post. A minute later Silva turned Angelino’s cross in at the far post to give the German side a deserved equaliser.
Leipzig were the better team and Christopher Nkunku came close to giving them the advantage three minutes before the break when his low shot went just wide after a series of dribbles. The scores remained 1-1 by halftime.
PSG started the second half well, with Messi finding space between the lines, but it was Leipzig who took the lead in the 57th as Nordi Mukiele latched onto another Angelino cross at the far post. It was 2-1 to Leipzig.
PSG were being outplayed as they were incapable of dealing with Leipzig’s high pressure game.
The hosts continued to struggle, but a Tyler Adams back pass was intercepted by Mbappe who ran into the box and found Messi. The Argentine talisman calmly placed the ball into the empty net to equalise for PSG in the 67th minute.
Seven minutes later, Mbappe was brought down by Mohamed Simakan in Leipzig’s box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Messi stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty in clinical fashion.
PSG were awarded another penalty four minutes into added time after a VAR review for a Josko Gvardiol foul on Achraf Hakimi, but Mbappe skied it over the bar. However, the match finished 3-2 to PSG
The result left PSG top of Group A with seven points from three games, one point ahead of Manchester City, who demolished Club Brugge 5-1 away earlier on Tuesday. Leipzig have no points in the Group A.
“They pressed really hard and targeted Marco Verratti,” said PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino, who had to deal with the absence of the injured Neymar and suspended Angel Di Maria.
“It was a very tough game but the team showed their character again.”
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
