Lisbon: After a week of tension and drama the Champions League is going to resume again with Paris St Germain facing RB Leipzig in the semifinals in a mouth-watering clash on Tuesday. The Ligue 1 champions confirmed their place after scrapping through Atalanta with a last-minute winner in the quarters.
With stars like Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, Angel Di Maria, Thiago Silva on their side, PSG start favourites on paper and if they win, it’s going to be their first-ever Champions League final. The French side have always been in the wrong side of the for last five to six seasons.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) August 18, 2020
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who has injured himself in the quarters is going to sit out with midfielder Marco Veratti also doubtful. However, the good news is that Mbappe has fully recovered and is totally fit to start. With Di Maria also coming back from suspension, PSG enter the clash with a strong outfit as Thomas Tuchel plans to be in the finals and make history as a manager.
RB Leipzig on the other hand, are expecting another upset after they defeated a strong Atletico Madrid in the last eight the previous week. Manager Julian Nagelsmann is mainly focusing on counter-attacks and team game and dreams to be in the final with the club that is only 11 years old and playing their maiden semifinal.
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) August 18, 2020
Termed as underdogs, Leipzig had an eventful run in the tournament with the German side toppling the likes against Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid en route to the semis. And with the young mind of Nagelsmann, it won’t be easy for PSG to get past. A genuine fight is expected.
Timo Werner, who was their star man has already left for Chelsea so they are fully dependent on team game and counter-attacks on which they are strong. Ibrahima Konate is the only one who is going to miss the match for Leipzig due to hip surgery. Danni Olmo and Yussuf Poulsen are the trump cards for the German side and it’s expected to be a great match.
PSG XI: Rico, Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Paredes, Marquinhos, Herrera, Di María, Mbappe, Neymar.
Leipzig XI: Gulacsi, Klostermann, Upamecano, Mukiele, Laimer, Kampl, Angelino, Sabitzer, Nkunku, Olmo, Poulsen.
