PSG Dispatch Leipzig to Cruise Into UCL Final

110 Champions League games is all it took, but Paris Saint-Germain finally booked their spot in the final of football's most prestigious club competition, outclassing RB Leipzig in Lisbon.

Marquinhos found himself on the scoreesheet just like last week's heroics against Atlanta, before goals from Di Maria and Bernat put the final nails in the coffin to a special run from the German side which was founded only 11 years ago.

Image: The Scottish Sun

Neymar was experiencing some serious déjà vu when he found himself one-on-one early and went on to strike the post, but it was one of an early string of warning calls from the French Champions, as Mbappe went on to hit the back of the net, ruled out due to a handball.

Leipzig briefly had Paris on the backfoot, before things went back into the swing of Thomas Tuchel's side. Neymar's run from a corner kick played short ended in a foul, setting up a free-kick from promising range. Angel Di Maria whipped the ball into Marquinhos, who timed his run perfectly to lead his header onto goal and steer his side in front after 12 minutes.

Yussuf Poulsen failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity to level the scoreline, striking the side netting in the aftermath, before a clever free-kick from Neymar struck the outside of the post with the keeper wiping away the sweat on his brow in relief.

In the later stages of the first half, PSG stuck one foot in the door of the final when goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi's wayward pass fell into the path of Neymar, who pulled off a neat backheel to the watchful Angel Di Maria, slotting it away as Paris took full control.

Champions League assists since Neymar made his UCL debut in 2013/14:

(Appearances in brackets)

24 (59) Neymar
21 (78) Cristiano
18 (49) Di Maria
16 (55) Suarez
16 (64) Messi
14 (45) Milner
14 (59) Marcelo

Not bad for a SELFISH player. 😉 pic.twitter.com/JAWTRPj9G8

— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) August 18, 2020

 

Leipzig needed something different to mount the comeback and there were signs they had conjured it up in the early stages of the second half. Kimpembe, Silva and others kept firm before dealing what would be the crushing blow to the Germans, as another mistake would be punished. Some more pressure forced a mistake as Nordi Mukiele slipped, squandering possesion to Di Maria who whipped a delightful ball to Bernat, heading home to make it 3-0. 

The German side had to really lock down for the minutes that followed as PSG piled on more pressure,  before Angeliño forced a stop from Rico. PSG's defence stayed composed and Leipzig simply looked like they were in too deep waters to mount a comeback - that would be true, as the game cruised to its finale, with PSG already gearing up for a showdown in the final.