Leipzig 0-3 PSG: Champions League semi-final 19/20
PSG stroll past Leipzig
Simon Evans slightly more comprehensive match report:
Paris St Germain reached their first ever Champions League final with a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday, inspired by Argentine Angel Di Maria.
Goals from Marquinhos and Di Maria put PSG 2-0 up at the interval and Juan Bernat added the third in the 56th minute for what was a comfortable victory at the Estadio da Luz.
The French club, who celebrating the 50th anniversary of their founding in 1970, will meet the winner of Wednesday's other semi between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais.
The big-spending PSG were a step too far for Leipzig, who were playing in the regional leagues just 11 years ago and have outperformed all expectations by reaching the last four.
With French World Cup winning forward Kylian Mbappé back in the starting line-up after fully recovering from his ankle injury, PSG's German coach Thomas Tuchel was able to field his preferred attacking trident with Brazilian Neymar and Di Maria.
Right from the outset, PSG looked a threat to the Leipzig defence with Neymar clipping the post after he was slipped in by Mbappé in the sixth minute.
Seven minutes later though, PSG had the lead -- Neymar and Di Maria lined up to take a free kick on the left and it was the Argentine who floated in a lovely cross which was nodded home by Marquinhos.
Former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger Di Maria was in fine form, constantly probing, while Neymar created from deep and Mbappé pushed on to the last defender looking to use his pace.
The Germans were struggling but did threaten in the 25th minute when Konrad Laimer burst down the right and found Yussuf Poulsen but the forward's shot was just off target.
Superb Neymar free-kick
Neymar then went close with an audacious free kick from deep and wide on the right, the former Barcelona man going for Peter Gulacsi's near post and striking the post as the Hungarian keeper scrambled.
It was a poor clearance from the keeper which led to PSG's second. Leandro Paredes collected the ball and then found Neymar who cleverly flicked it with the back of his heel into the path of Di Maria who made no mistake.
Leipzig's 33-year-old coach Julian Nagelsmann needed to find some way to shift the momentum of the game and made two changes at the break but after a bright start, PSG put the outcome beyond doubt.
Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele slipped while attempting to clear, allowing Di Maria to cross the ball back in to the box and Juan Bernat's glancing header floated into the far corner.
Mbappe forced a good save out of Gulacsi as PSG pushed for a fourth while PSG keeper Sergio Rico had his hands warmed by a fierce drive from fellow Spaniard Angelino.
PSG's only other appearances in the final of a European competition came with their UEFA Cup Winners' Cup victory in 1996 and their runners-up spot in the following season.
Lyon - Bayern Munich live online: Champions League semi-final 2019/20
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Nagelsmann
“We want to be back and experience the same again in the Champions League next season. Now it's time for vacations for my players before coming together as a team and getting ready for next season.
We won't be the first team not to stop Neymar and we won't be the last. As a coach you think about the next challenges. There's a lot of positive things we take with us. The attitude of my players was great. We showed character on the pitch, but you have to accept when the opponent is stronger."
Tuchel
"Football is for the fans. We do all this together. We can really feel that they're with us and that they have confidence in us. I really hope they can feel that this team is a real team.
We didn't make big tactical changes. Yes, we adapt to all our opponents, but not too much. We have to show our strength, and the players again showed their hunger to win, work together and suffer."
PSG fans in Lisbon
They were as close as they could get to the action... and loving it.
Full time. PSG's power, organisation and above all pace and movement were too much for Leipzig, who bow out of the Champions League 2019/2020. PSG are into their first Champions League final! They'll face the winner of tomorrow's match between Bayern and Lyon.
Leipzig would still like to get on the scoresheet. PSG still look more likely to score next.
We'll have TWO minutes of time added on.
PSG break and Sarabia puts a decent ball into the box where Neymar is running in, but he can't get on the end of it and to add injury to insult he gets hurt clashing with a defender going for it.
Sarabia on for Di María, who has been superb.
Mbappé off for Choupo-Moting, who grabbed a pretty important goal in the quarter-final.
Angelino floats a nice one across but Orban's header is tame.
Di María limping out there. He's keen to get off.
Leipzig still looking for their consolation goal, but really struggling to get in behind PSG.
And Verratti on for Herrera.
Tuchler decides to make a change. Draxler on for Paredes
Klostermann off for Orban.
Neymar plays in Mbappé, but the defender gets their first only to play the ball onto the Frenchman's foot from where it flies off and nearly beats Gulacsi. His reactions are good though and he saves well.
Gulacsi denies Di María! Free-kick was a bit too close to the keeper but he did well.
Halstenberg into the book for a nasty one on Neymar, catching him with his trailing leg as the Brazilian nipped behind. Poulsen booked too for having a moan.
PSG break and it's looking very, very like four for PSG, until Mbappé passes to Neymar, only to watch the Brazilian slip and fall on his backside. The chance is lost, despite Neymar's efforts to play the ball from a seated position.
Leipzig still want to go for this, but in their hearts they know it's a done deal. They produce some pressure and Angelino fires a shot off, which raps Sergio's hands, but no more.
Mbappé through on the left and it's saved one-handed by Gulacsi. The ball breaks back to Paredes who shoots strongly, but too close to the Leipzig keeper, who's down to save.
Long spell of possession from PSG. Leipzig can't even get a foot on the ball.
Mbappé climbs highest in the centre of the box and gets his head on a cross, but he directs it just wide.
The Atleti fans watching this are pretty gutted at seeing how PSG have disarmed Leipzig's danger, but Atleti didn't have the cutting edge of PSG's front three. Interesting that the only time Atleti were on top was when João Félix came on and was running directly at the German side - they struggled with that.
Poulsen fouls Herrera who protected the ball perfectly, forcing the frustrated Leipzig man to charge into his back.
Sabitzer tries his luck from distance, but it flies well over. He'd like a corner, but the ref tells him it was just rubbish technique, not a deflection. (More or less).
Kampl off for Leipzig and Tyler Adams on.
Kimpembe is back on after that challenge and some magic sponge.
That challenge from Laimer will be his last participation in the game. He's off for Halstenberg.
Kimpembe needs attention after that challenge from Laimer.
Laimer goes right through Kimpembe who was shielding the ball in his own box. Frustration showing. Into the book.
That goal has really knocked the wind out of Leipzig's sails. They were throwing everything at PSG and were hit with a sucker punch. Hurts, but not unexpected.
Forsberg fouls Di María. The Argentinean is on fire this evening.
Di María grabs another assist. Neymar got a foot on Bernat's header, but it was already over the line.
Barnat played in by Di María. His control lets him down.
Di María's free-kick fails to beat the first man and Leipzig clear.
And as soon as Neymar and co DO get involved it's danger for Leipzig. The Brazilian is brought down out on the left touchline. Dangerous free-kick.
Mbappé and Neymar bystanders at the moment.
Forsberg gets bored of all this passing nonsense and batters one from 30 yards out. He got a good amount of oomph on it, but leant back ever so slighty and Rico can watch it soar over.
All the action up in the PSG half. Leipzig's double sub and a rousing half-time talk have them controlling this so far.
Leipzig win a corner after forcing their way into the box down the left. They are looking a lot more dangerous here.
Mukiele plays it save back to keeper Gulacis, who shows good nerve after his first half disaster to play it out along the deck. This one finds its man.
Leipzig are trying to up the pace at the start of the second half, but PSG standing mostly firm so far.
Leipzig into the PSG box but Angelino passes when he could have hit a spectacular volley from the top of the box. Pass takes his teammate by surprise and PSG clear.
Second half underway!
Schick on for Olmo for Leipzig, as is Forsberg, coming on for Nkunku
Teams out for the second half!
PSG want more of the same
If they can produce it, they'll be in their first ever Champions League final. For Leipzig to get to theirs they'll need to turn this around in quite spectacular fashion.
Amazing that at the end of that half the only person in Kuiper's little black book is Kimpembe, for a foul right at the end of the 45'. Neymar was on the end of a fair few fouls, but despite the persistence the Dutch referee decided to let them go.
Barcelona have to pay millions for Ronald Koeman's release
While there's a Champions League semi-final going on here, there are a lot of eyes focused on goings on at the Camp Nou, where the fall-out from Barcelona's 8-2 tonking at the hands of Bayern continues. New coach... but president Bartomeu appears to be going absolutely nowhere.
Half-time! PSG fully deserve their 2-0 lead. Faster and sharper than Leipzig. Marquinhos got the first with a fine header from a neat Di María free-kick, Di María grabbed the second after a terrible clearance from Gulacsi ended up at his feet. He swept home well.
Kimpembe booked after a mistake from Marquinhos meant the PSG defender had to obstruct to stop a dangerous move from Leipzig.
Free-kick floated in, but it poses no real danger to PSG.
PSG knock it about running the first half down. They've down exactly the job they wanted to do in that 45.
Two minutes time added on for the first half.
Mbappé down the right and he finds Neymar cutting across the box but the Brazilian slams his effort just wide and off the hoardings. He can't believe he missed that.
Neymar striding through the middle! He runs into a pack of defenders, but Leipzig are really struggling out there.
Gulacsi with a terrible ball out that's robbed by PSG who get it to Di María unmarked in the middle of the box and he does well to slam it past the keeper.
Another PSG attack, this time Neymar is offside. But they'll come again...
PSG have scored in 34 straight European fixtures, equalling Real Madrid's record. They are well on top right now.
Another fine run from Neymar into the box, he runs out of room but more terror for the Leipzig defence.
Apart from when he's hacked down Neymar is enjoying it out there. Flicks, tricks and general Brazilian joie de vivre.
Leipzig for their part are struggling. They can't really hold onto the ball long enough to do anything with it and PSG coming forward are too fast and tricksy for them.
Neymar! From miles out on the right Neymar tries to blast it straight home and he hits the post! Neat idea, nearly perfectly executed!
Kehrer send tumbling after another foul, this one out on the right wing. You'd expect a card soon...
Neymar beats Kampl all ends up, nutmegging him. The Leipzig player boshes the Brazilian on the head in return (somewhat accidentally it must be noted as he tried to hold Neymar back). Foul, but no card.
Neymar tries his luck with a long old ball into the box, but you have to get up earlier than that to test Gulacsi.
Nasty foul from Kimpembe, but no card.
Di María diagonal cross looking for Mbappé at the back post, but it's just cut out.
Olmo wonderfully into the box down the right and he cuts back to Poulsen who FIRES JUST INCHES WIDE. That was a fine chance.
Olmo fouls Neymar. The Brazilian down again. Will ref Kuipers step in to take action at some point?
Kimpembe breaks up a move pretty cynically just outside the box. Sabitzer fires the free-kick in but it hits the wall and flies over for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Skills from Mbappé! Beats two just outside the Leipzig box but he eventually runs out of space.
PSG have done really well to stop Leipzig playing the game they wanted to - as expected the French side's front line is so zippy they can push the Leipzig formation out of shape.
Silva has a tissue in his mouth to mop up a bit of blood, but he's carrying on.
Corner for Leipzig. It's too long and flies out the other side. Silva has taken a knock to the face in the stramash in the box as the corner flew in. He looked ok, but ended up taking a few steps and then collapsing on the goal-line.
Leipzig have a complete disaster at the back giving the ball away as they bring it out with four PSG men hovering. They nab it and get it to Mbappé in the box, who should maybe do better but fires off Gulacsi. Corner for PSG, but that could well have been 2-0.
It was a pretty even opening few minutes, but Neymar had already hit the post and started to worry the Leipzig players with his skill when he was fouled out on the left. Di María's free kick was superb and Marquinhos' run and header the icing on the cake. 1-0 PSG.
Neymar getting treatment to his ankle after that foul that led to the goal. He's coming back on though.
Di María floats in the free-kick perfectly and Marquinhos runs in and nods home. That's a tasty goal.
Neymar fouled again as he tries to go round Laimer, who obstructs him, stands on him and pushes him to boot. Dangerous free-kick.
Corner for PSG. Di Marái send it in, and its cleared for another corner. Bernat would like a handball but it's clearly not a penalty.
Sabitzer in the heat of the action again, this time knocking Neymar over in the midfield. Neymar's work rate is impressive.
Sabitzer dinks and turns just outside the box and when he's lost his man he sets himself and has a ping. Rico dives and saves easily.
Leipzig go straight up the other end and Sabitzer gets a cross in, but nobody is on the end of it.
PSG have the ball in the net but a clearance from keeper Gulacsi hit Neymar's arm to set up Mbappé. No goal. Tuchel is raging.
Neymar!! Mbappé with a sweet, sweet ball through the defence with Neymar running on and he slides an outside-of-the-foot effort past the keeper but it's onto the post!
Di María looks ruefully as a long ball flies off the top of his noggin and out for a throw.
Kimpembe takes a knock challenging for an aerial ball in the box. He's grimacing in pain, but will be fine.
Shot from Nkunku at the top of the box! But his effort took a deflection and Rico can take easily. That was sharp from Leipzig.
PSG happy to knock it about at the back waiting for a gap... Leipzig mostly happy to watch them do it. Olmo makes a run to put pressure on Silva but he's got plenty time to get rid.
Long ball into the top of the box from Silva but keeper Gulacsi, who of course used to be at Hull, gathers comfortably.
PSG knocking it about and move it out right but Leipzig shut it down early doors.
Off we go! Leipzig vs PSG! A Champions League final place at stake.
Neymar, Mbappé and Di María. That's a somewhat scary attacking front three for Mukiele, Upamecano and Klostermann to be facing.
Poulsen and Silva captains tonight.
Anthem over and general applause from the players.
Referees out and here come the sides. Leipzig out first, followed by PSG. Leipzig already in their white strips, PSG going for a grey tracksuit.
Tonight's referee
The experienced Bjorn Kuipers, who is 47 now, takes charge of tonight's game.
He's whistled this lot: 2011 UEFA Super Cup, the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final, the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final, the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final, the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final and the 2018 UEFA Europa League Final.
And of course he also owns several supermarkets, and a hair salon.
We'll be at 120% and we'll push PSG to the limit. Everyone in the team is hungry to go through and take another step in the tournament.
PSG's Champions League dreams
Since Qatar Sports Investments took over PSG in 2011 they've won 18 of 24 domestic titles, but this is the first time since 94-95 the club has reached the Champions League semi-finals.
They reached the quarter-finals in the first four years under Qatari ownership, but then went out painfully in the last-16 in the next three seasons. The defeats to Barcelona and Manchester United will live long in the mind.
But this year, they've easily won their group (containing Real Madrid), and came back from a first leg defeat against Dortmund in the last-16 to go through to face Atalanta, where it looked like they were going out until a late turn around.
Will this be PSG's year?
PSG fans in Lisbon
There are fans in the city, not that they will be allowed into the ground.
PSG XI
Rico; Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Marquinhos, Herrera, Paredes; Di María, Neymar and Mbappé.
There it is. Mbappé starts!
Far more dangerous starting trident than against Atalanta: Mbappé and Di Maria replace Icardi and Sarabia up front alongside Neymar. Paredes comes in for Gueye.
Leipzig 3-2 PSG*
That's our prediction for tonight. The safe money is on PSG, but Leipzig are such a solid unit and playing very decent football. There's not many sides that dominate Simeone's Atleti.
Of course, Neymar and Mbappé are players that can hurt anyone, and could easily pop home a number of goals and win it between them in three minutes. But PSG struggled against Atalanta and we can well see Leipzig through to the final if the French/Brazilian pairing fail to spark.
Oh, and another thing - Navas is out. No disrepect to Sergio Rico, who is a good stopper, but losing the Costa Rican is a major blow for PSG.
* Dearie me we got this one wrong.
Leipzig XI
Gulácsi; Mukiele, Upamecano, Klostermann; Laimer, Sabitzer, Kampl, Angeliño; Olmo, Nkunku; and Poulsen.
Mbappé
Every PSG fan and neutral will be hoping he's playing and on form tonight. Simply the most devastating player on the world stage right now.
No English, Italian or Spanish clubs in Champions League semi-finals for first time since 1991
RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique Lyon and Bayern Munich are competing for a spot in the final. Two clubs from France, two from Germany, with the possibility of a one-nation showdown for the trophy. This is the first time since 1991 that no teams from England, Spain or Italy have reached this stage of the competition, which at that time was still called the European Cup. The world looked very different back then, for our four semi-finalists and beyond...
RB Leipzig 2-1 Atlético Madrid: Leipzig break Atleti hearts late on
How Leipzig brushed aside Atleti
Leipzig may have broken Atleti hearts late on, but the truth is that they outplayed Simeone's side for pretty much all of this game as Koke admitted straight after the game. The only time Atleti looked promising was just after João Félix came on. He made a huge impact, won a penalty, converted it, and then Leipzig went and won the match.
Atalanta dealt cruelest of exits by PSG late show
How PSG squeaked through against Atalanta
PSG were very, very lucky to get through against Atalanta in the quarter-final. Here's how they did it.
Mbappé in line to start against RB Leipzig
PSG coach Tuchel says Mbappé could well start tonight.
"He played 30 minutes against Atalanta and had no problems with his ankle," he said.
"So he will train and, if there is the possibility for him to start, we will see if he can play the 90 minutes."
It's fair to say he changed things around against Atalanta...
A Long Decade
Things can change quickly in elite football but few clubs have had such a dramatic change of fortunes in the last ten years as RB Leipzig and PSG. The German club was just one-year-old a decade ago after the Red Bull company bought fifth-tier side SSV Markranstadt. The club secured four promotions in its first seven years to reach the Bundesliga and entered the Champions League after just nine years of existence. They had never progressed past the group stages until this season, but now stand just 90 minutes away from a first European final appearance in the club’s short history.
Just a decade ago the best side in the French capital had finished 13th in Ligue 1 and only qualified for Europe on the basis of lifting the Coupe de France that year. They were captained by a 37-year-old Claude Makelele and featured a 19-year-old Mahmadou Sakho in the backline. Ten years later they are undoubtedly one of the game’s elite club sides but have struggled in the Champions League, failing to match their semi-final appearance of 1994/95.
This year however things look different and they will take confidence from the manner of their knock-victories this season. Thomas Tuchel, coming up against his coaching apprentice Julian Nagelsmann,will be hoping to be the manager who takes PSG to the next level in Europe.
Semi-Final day
Everything feels so strange with the ongoing Covid-19, but Semi-Final day it is. Hope no matter where you are following or watching you are staying safe.
RB Leipzig vs PSG: how and where to watch - times, TV...
Tuning in to Leipzig vs PSG
If you want to follow the match on the box, check out Will's handy guide - with free preview of the match.
Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain live
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of RB Leipzig vs Paris Saint-Germain, the first of this year's Champions League semi-finals.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic the game is a one-legged affair, being held in Portugal at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
The game gets underway at 20:00 local time, that's 21:00 CEST and 20:00 in London, 15:00 in New York,12:00 in Los Angeles and 22:00 in Qatar.