ZCZC
BSP-03
FBL-EUR-C1-FRA-GER-PSG-LEIPZIG
Neymar keeps PSG on course in Champions League with Leipzig win
PARIS, Nov 25, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – A nervy Paris Saint-Germain were outplayed
for long spells but held on after an early Neymar penalty to beat RB Leipzig
1-0 on Tuesday and revive their Champions League campaign.
Last season’s runners-up had lost two of their opening three matches in
Group H and would have been staring at an early exit from the competition had
they lost again to the Germans behind closed doors at the Parc des Princes.
Yet Neymar’s 11th-minute spot-kick proved enough for a PSG side struggling
with injuries and suspensions, as Leipzig failed to convert any of the
chances that came their way.
“We are a team who, in the difficult moments, manage to stick together and
do a good job. Once again we proved that,” captain Marquinhos told RMC Sport.
Both PSG and Leipzig are now level on six points with two games still to
come, with Manchester United three points clear at the top of the section
after easing to a 4-1 victory over Istanbul Basaksehir.
Crucially, PSG have the head-to-head advantage over Leipzig, thanks to an
away goal, if the two teams end level on points. They lost 2-1 when the teams
met in Germany three weeks ago.
Thomas Tuchel’s team go to Old Trafford next and the feeling is that the
French champions could still just as easily advance to the last 16 in first
place as they could fail to qualify at all.
They brushed Leipzig aside in the semi-finals of last season’s competition
in Lisbon in August but collapsed worryingly in their last meeting with
Julian Nagelsmann’s team after taking an early lead.
Here they again went in front and then succeeded in seeing the game out
despite struggling desperately to maintain possession and stop the waves of
Leipzig attacks. “There are lots of things that happen that people maybe
don’t know about,” insisted Marquinhos, with PSG having struggled with
injuries, suspensions and coronavirus infections all season.
Here they were without as many as six first-team regulars.
– Penalty ‘a joke’ –
“I don’t think we had the means to put in an exceptional performance, but
the most important thing was the victory.”
The decisive spot-kick was awarded when Marcel Sabitzer was rather harshly
adjudged to have fouled Angel Di Maria.
Neymar rolled the ball home from 12 yards for his first Champions League
goal of the season on what was his first start in almost a month after
injury.
“Paris didn’t have a single chance in the whole match, and the penalty was
a joke,” Nagelsmann fumed to Sky Germany.
“To see that at this level is really sad. Di Maria dived. There was no
contact.”
Alongside Neymar, Kylian Mbappe saw his European goal drought go on —
Ligue 1’s leading scorer has still not scored a Champions League goal in 2020
in eight appearances.
Nevertheless, PSG did not need their French World Cup-winning superstar to
be at his best as Leipzig — who have not managed to replace Timo Werner
since the Germany striker left for Chelsea — were unable to turn their
dominance of possession into goals.
Dayot Upamecano saw his header tipped over by Keylor Navas and Emil
Forsberg turned a Dani Olmo cross over the top in the first half.
The pressure continued at the start of the second half, but Forsberg and
Sabitzer notably missed the target and the chances dried up after the home
side reverted to a three-man central defence in the closing stages.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0914 hrs