PSG will look to turn around their lacklustre start to their Champions League campaign, as they host second placed Leipzig. A win for the hosts would see them overtake Leipzig in second, putting their fate for the tournament in their own hands. Leipzig won’t need much more motivation either, as a repeat of the reverse fixture could see them go top of the group, should Manchester United lose their game.
Harry Buckett will be taking you through the action.
Starting Lineups:
Kick Off PSG get us underway here tonight.
2′ YELLOW Emil Forsberg is shown the yellow card for a strong late challenge in the attacking half.
7′ Both sides still finding their feet in this one, with no real chances being created. Hopefully it livens up as the game progresses.
9’PENALTY (PSG) A misplaced pass allows PSG to counter. Angel Di Maria breaks into the box and goes down after feeling contact from Angelino. Seemed like a harsh one to give, with it looking like Di Maria was waiting to feel a nudge and go to ground.
11′ GOAL (PSG) After a dramatically long wait, Neymar slots home from the penalty spot, into the bottom right hand corner.
Embed from Getty Images12′ SAVE Dayot Upamecano gets on the end of a curling corner, but his effort is denied by the palm of Keylor Navas.
15′ CHANCE (PSG) Kylian Mbappe plays a through ball to Neymar but he can’t get it completely under control. The ball flicks up in the air for Mbappe to have an acrobatic effort which ultimately ends up in the stands.
21′ Di Maria cuts in onto his right foot to have a low driven shot which is comfortably saved by Peter Gulacsi.
26′ PSG look happy to sit back and let Leipzig have the ball, predominately relying on the pace of Mbappe and Neymar during counter attacks. It’s working so far, but eventually Leipzig are going to break through if they aren’t pressed enough.
31′ Di Maria has an optimistic effort from a 30 yard free kick go just wide of the post.
35′ A long clearance from Marquinhos almost falls perfectly for Mbappe, who would have had a great chance to score, had Gulacsi not been quick of his line to close him down.
38′ The ball falls perfectly for Amadou Haidara to strike one from range. It takes a slight deflection, but not enough to catch Navas out, who makes a good save.
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39′ Neymar drives down the left hand side with pace and puts a ball into the box, aimed for Mbappe. Ibrahima Konate saves the day for Leipzig as he slides in front of the French striker, and wins the ball. PSG players shout for a penalty, but the referee correctly waves off the claims.
40′ YELLOW Neymar is originally booked for a late challenge. Leandro Paredes must have felt left out, as he gets himself one as well for arguing with the referee.
45′ CHANCE (RBL) Dani Olmo spots the run of Forsberg and sets him up perfectly with a cross from the right wing. Forsberg is practically unmarked however is unable to keep his volleyed effort on target.
Half Time PSG 1-0 RB Leipzig
PSG go into the break in second place after a soft penalty in the opening few minutes. Although the French side haven’t seen a whole lot of the ball, when they have attacked they have looked threatening.
Leipzig have been frustrated with PSG sitting off, which has slowed their attacking game down. However Leipzig have managed to break down their defence a couple of times, the best opportunity falling to Forsberg in stoppage time. The game could go either way in the second half, and if Leipzig do get a goal, you feel the game is going to open up a lot more.
46′ Leipzig kick off and we are off again for the second half.
49′ CLOSE Christopher Nkunku whips in a ball finding the foot of Forsberg who’s volleyed effort goes narrowly wide of the post.
51′ The ball rolls across the box allowing Marcel Sabitzer to hit one first time. The shot is dragged wide, but Navas is still not happy with his defence, who have dropped off a bit since the restart.
53′ INJURY (RBL) Mbappe tries to jump over the body of Sabitzer but lands on his forearm. Completely unintentional but a painful one nevertheless. He should be okay to continue.
58′ Quick freekick from PSG allows Mbappe to have a close range effort on the volley but he doesn’t make the desired connection, sending the ball high into the clouds.
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64′ SUBS For Leipzig, Haidari and Olmo are replaced by Willi Orban and Justin Kluivert. PSG opt to swap Di Maria with Rafinha.
70′ A long period of good football from Leipzig comes to nothing. It’s been the story of the game really; Leipzig build up well until the final third, then PSG clear.
74′ SUB (RBL) Alexander Sorloth comes on for Forsberg.
77′ YELLOW Rafinha is booked for kicking the ball away after a foul was given.
Embed from Getty Images79′ Poulsen rises higher than the rest to have a headed effort but it goes over the bar yet again. Leipzig may look back on this game and wonder whether they should have scored at least a couple.
82′ YELLOW Ander Herrera is shown the yellow card for an ugly challenge on Poulsen.
83′ SUB (PSG) Herrera makes way for Marco Verrati.
84′ YELLOW Verrati follows in the footsteps of Herrera and is booked. It was quite a high challenge from Verrati, if VAR had looked at it he probably would have been shown a red card.
89′ Kluivert sets up Sabitzer for a low driven effort on the edge of the box, but he snatches at it a bit, and it goes fizzing wide.
90′ SUBS (PSG) Mbappe and Neymar are replaced by Moise Kean and Pablo Sarabia.
90+1′ There will be six minutes of added time.
90+4′ Rafinha breaks into the Leipzig box and gets a low shot away which is saved by Gulacsi.
FULL TIME PSG 1-0 RB Leipzig
Embed from Getty ImagesPSG take all the points after a competitive contest in Group H. In the end it was that early penalty that did it for them, with Leipzig unable to capitalize on their many chances. Something that could have helped them get the equaliser is the possible red card for Verrati late on. It certainly appeared as though he was not in control of his challenge, an interesting talking point for sure.
So what does this mean for the standings in Group H. Their win means that PSG overtake Leipzig on goal difference, making the next two games crucial for either side. Elsewhere Manchester United comfortably beat Istanbul Basaksehir 4-1 so they stay top of the group. It’s going to be a closely fought battle for the first and second spots.
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