RB Leipzig v PSG Preview & Predictions Tuesday 18/08/2020

Updated: 19/11/2024

2019-20 Champions League semi-final preview:  RB Leipzig v PSG – Estadio da Luz, Lisbon – August 18, 2020 – 20:00 hrs BST

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RB Leipzig v PSG Preview

Thomas Tuchel's Paris St Germain survived elimination by the skin of their teeth when they narrowly beat Italian underdogs Atalanta 1-2 in the quarterfinals.

While trailing to an early goal from the Serie A club for all of 90 minutes, it took a defender and a late substitution in the forms of Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to salvage the Parisiennes with a couple of strikes in injury time and take them through to the semi-finals for the first time in 25 years.

Meanwhile, Leizpig, competing in the knockout stages for the first time in the Champions League, overcame the loss of their talismanic scorer Timo Werner to Chelsea, to beat Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Jose Alvalade and make it to the semi-finals of a major European competition for the first-time.

American substitute Tyler Adams'88th minute strike gave the German club the decider after Dani Olmo's opening goal had been cancelled out by a Joao Felix penalty.

RB Leipzig v PSG Match Centre

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Tuchel will once again look to his expensive acquisitions Neymar and Kylian Mbappe to deliver the goods on Tuesday night against Leipzig.

Neymar looked impressive on the field against Atalanta with his myriad skills but somehow lacked goal-mouth ability thanks to numerous easy opportunities he got to score.

It was only after the introduction of Mbappe in the 60th that PSG look like scoring.

Tuchel brought in Mbappe for just half-an-hour because of a toe injury the young forward has been suffering.

But once on the pitch, Mbappe looked absolutely fine and capable of playing a full 90 minutes which is what he will have to do against Leipzig.

Full-back Layvin Kurzawa is expected to remain sidelined due to a thigh injury, while midfielder Marco Verratti is still struggling with an injured calf.

First-choice goalkeeper Keylor Navas had to be substituted during the latter stages of the quarter-final with a hamstring problem and is considered doubtful, with ex-Fulham loanee Sergio Rico potentially set to deputize once more.

Captain and defender Thiago Silva also sustained a minor hamstring tear against Atalanta, but should be fit to feature on Tuesday.

Angel Di Maria will be back from suspension and that should give the PSG attack a lot of beef.

On the other hand, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann will be looking forward anxiously to the fitness of key midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, who took a blow in the back in the game against Atletico Madrid.

Nagelsmann may drop Christopher Nkunku, who was incredibly wasteful against Atletico, giving the ball away on a number of occasions.

There could be a place in the starting XI for match winner Adams who can play both as a midfielder and a wing-back. Sabitzer will be expected to be back and he along with Kevin Kampl will be a force to watch out for in the midfield.

Yussuf Poulsen is expected to fill in the big shoes of the departed Werner upfront, while centre-back Dayot Upamecano who was so effective in warding off Atletico attackers will be a pivotal figure in the defense.

PSG were far from their best against Atalanta being totally out of match practice in the last 5 months, with Neymar in particular failing to deliver, but they possess the firepower necessary to take them through.

Nagelsmann will no doubt be relishing the chance to tactically outwit former mentor Tuchel, but a desperate PSG wanting to make it to their first European final under their Qatari owners who have invested so heavily in them, may just be too hot to handle for the German club.

RB Leipzig v PSG odds

• PSG to win: 8/11
• RB Leipzig to win: 10/3

Both teams to score

• Yes: 4/6
• No: 11/10

Correct score

• PSG 2-1: 15/2
• PSG 1-0: 8/1
• PSG 2-0: 17/2
• PSG 3-1: 12/1
• PSG 3-2: 20/1
• RB Leipzig 2-1: 12/1
• RB Leipzig 1-0: 14/1
• RB Leipzig 3-1: 28/1
• RB Leipzig 3-2: 33/1

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