Leipzig suffer narrow loss to PSG

PSG 1-0 Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Neymar (pen. 11')

PSG: Navas - Florenzi, Danilo, Diallo, Bakker - Paredes, Marquinhos (c), Herrera (Verratti 83') - Di Maria (Rafinha 64'), Mbappe (Kean 90'), Neymar (Sarabia 90')

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Mukiele (Orban 64'), Konate, Upamecano, Angelino - Haidara, Sabitzer (c) - Nkunku, Olmo (Kluivert 64'), Forsberg (Sorloth 74') - Poulsen

90'+6 SABITZER SHOOTS...

...from the edge of the box, but it's blocked as soon as it leaves his boot.

90'+3 PSG RUNNING THE CLOCK DOWN

There are some tired Leipzig legs out there now and the hosts are doing what they need to do to see the result over the line, knocking the ball around between themselves and keeping it near the Leipzig corner flag.

90' NEYMAR AND MBAPPE OFF

PSG's superstar duo are substituted off, with Sarabia and Kean coming on.

There will be six minutes of stoppage time.

88' LEIPZIG PUSHING

The visitors are going all out for an equaliser but PSG are sitting back in numbers and closing down the gaps. The result isn't favourable from a Leipzig perspective, but their performance has been very encouraging, particularly in the second half.

85' DARK ARTS

PSG are doing all they can to protect their lead, committing niggly fouls and going to ground looking for free-kicks. They've been outplayed here and can count themselves fortunate to be in the lead.

83' NEXT SUB

That's Herrera's last contribution to the game and he's swiftly replaced by Verratti.

82' HERRERA BOOKED

Poulsen with a brilliant run in midfield, jinking past a couple of challenges as he tries to get something going. Herrera lunges in with a late tackle to stop him in his tracks, and is shown the yellow card.

79' OVER FROM POULSEN!

Leipzig's best chance in a while as Angelino whips in a corner from the left. Poulsen is first to it but can't keep his header down.

76' FIRST CHANCE FOR SORLOTH

Nkunku crosses from the left as Leipzig again peg the hosts back. Sorloth gets a head on it, but it's deflected over the bar.

74' SORLOTH ON

Leipzig to go more direct now? Keeping possession and intricate passing hasn't produced the goods in the final third so far for Leipzig, so it looks like Nagelsmann is trying a different approach, taking off Forsberg for the more physical Sorloth to partner Poulsen up top.

70' LEIPZIG ON TOP

The visitors are playing very well, pinning PSG back into their own half. The home side are sitting deep with five men at the back - that in itself a huge sign of respect for the way Leipzig are performing. Nagelsmann's side haven't really tested Navas since their early flurry of chances this half though.

67' TACTICAL SWITCH

Leipzig look to have switched to three at the back now, with Orban joining Upamecano and Konate in central defence. Angelino has pushed further forward on the left and Kluivert willprovide width on the right and Leipzig look for an equaliser.

64' FIRST SUBSTITUTIONS

Both teams make their first changes. Di Maria makes way for Rafinha for PSG, while Kluivert and Orban come on for Leipzig, with Olmo and Mukiele going off.

61' EXCELLENT FROM NKUNKU

The Leipzig attacker delivers a corner from the right, but it's headed clear to Mbappe. He sprints forward down the PSG left wing but is tracked all the way by Nkunku, who eventually doubles up on the striker with a teammate to win possession back.

57' GULACSI ALERT

A low ball is played forward to Mbappe, who's beaten the offside trap. He'll be one-on-one with Gulacsi... but the Leipzig goalkeeper has spotted the danger and darts out of his area to clear.

55' BACK AGAIN

Sabitzer is still grimacing in some pain but he's ok to continue for now. Mbappe looks very sorry and has apologised a couple of times already. The action is underway again now though.

53' SABITZER DOWN

The Leipzig midfielder is receiving treatment on the pitch after Mbappe accidentally lands on his right arm while tussling for the ball. It's a painful one for the Austrian. Nagelsmann sends Adams to warm-up just in case.

51' SABITZER DRILLS WIDE

Olmo does brilliantly to hold the ball up on the edge of the PSG box before laying it off to Sabitzer. The captain unleashes a trademark drive from distance but drags it jut wide of the post.

49' SO CLOSE FROM FORSBERG!

Haidara goes well down the right, getting to the byline before crossing into the middle. Both Poulsen and Forsberg go for it but the latter connects on the volley - with his shin - and the ball flies just the wrong side of the post.

48' SET PIECE CHANCE

Florenzi fouls Nkunku on the left-hand corner of the PSG penalty area. Nkunku himself takes it and whips it dangerously into the six-yard box, but Upamecano can't quite get there and Marquinhos boots it clear.

46' SECOND HALF

Leipzig get the ball rolling again. No changes from either side at the break.

HALF-TIME

The whistle blows shortly afterwards and Forsberg's effort will give Leipzig heart that they can still get back in this. They've matched PSG so far, although they have struggled to get behind their backline and create chances. It's the hosts with the lead at the break though, thanks to Neymar's penalty.

45'+1 FORSBERG VOLLEYS OVER!

Leipzig's best move and best chance of the game. PSG are pulled apart by the visitors' movement, with Poulsen dropping deep and Forsberg arriving late into the box to collect Olmo's lofted cross. The Swede takes it on the volley from 16 yards but can't keep his effort down.

42' EXCELLENT FROM HAIDARA

Neymar drives forward on the break and rides a couple of challenges before getting into the box. He tries to go around Haidara on the outside but the Leipzig midfielder is alive to the danger and pokes it out for a corner.

39' HAIDARA HAS A GO

Leipzig's most dangerous chance of the game as Haidara is given space to shoot from just outside the box. His fierce drive is well saved by Navas though.

36' LOVELY FROM POULSEN

The Leipzig forward receives the ball in the PSG box with his back to goal. He turns brilliantly to create space for a shot, but shanks his left-footed effort well wide of the target.

34' ONLY A GOAL MISSING

It's been pretty evenly balanced so far, even if Leipzig have had more possession (57 per cent), made more passes (164 to 106) and done so more accurately (82 per cent completion compared to 78). The visitors haven't had a clear sight of Navas' goal yet though.

31' WIDE FROM DI MARIA

Forsberg gives away a free-kick a good 35 yards from goal, to the right of centre. Di Maria fancies it and shoots, but it curls wide of the post - Gulacsi had it covered at any rate.

30' NEYMAR SHOT BLOCKED

The PSG forward wins the ball a couple of yards outside the Leipzig area and settles himself to shoot. He strikes it left-footed but Upamecano is well placed to block.

26' DANGEROUS LOCATION

Sabitzer gives away a free-kick for a foul on Mbappe just outside the right-hand corner of the Leipzig box. Di Maria curls it into the box looking for the late arrival of Marquinhos, but Gulacsi comes off his line to pluck the ball out of the air.

22' DI MARIA SHOOTS

Neymar leads the charge as PSG counter, before playing the ball to his right to Di Maria. The Argentinian gets to the edge of the box and cuts inside on to his stronger left foot, but his attempted shot towards the back post lacks both pace and power and it's a comfortable save for Gulacsi.

18' NICE TRY FROM NKUNKU

Leipzig get forward well down the left with Nkunku. He has Angelino overlapping on the outside but instead tries to thread a pass into Forsberg, who's darting into the box. It's a nice effort, but PSG read the danger and can clear.

15' MBAPPE VOLLEYS OVER

Mbappe has space to run for the first time in the game. He gets to the edge of the area and tries to thread a pass into Neymar, but Upamecano gets a toe on it. The rebound sits up nicely for Mbappe, who tries an acrobatic sideways scissor kick, but it whizzes over the bar.

13' FORSBERG FIRES OVER

Olmo lays the ball off to Forsberg, around 25 yards out. He strikes it well but the ball sails well over the target.

12' LEIPZIG RESPOND

Nagelsmann's side, who also fell behind early in the reverse fixture, go up the other end of the pitch and go close to equalising. Sabitzer's rasping drive from the edge of the box is deflected wide for a corner, from which Upamecano's header is tipped over by Navas.

11' NEYMAR FROM THE SPOT

The Brazilian takes what seems like forever with his run-up and side-foots a shot low to Gulacsi's left. The Leipzig keeper goes the right way, but the ball has too much pace on it.

9' PENALTY TO PSG!

Leipzig try to play the ball out from the back but lose possession cheaply. Di Maria has the ball and drives into the box. He's tripped from behind by Sabitzer and PSG have a penalty.

6' UPAMECANO AGAIN

Another attempted lofted ball, and again Upamecano outmuscles Mbappe to win it in the air. The game's still settling, but the big Leipzig defender is letting the PSG forward know in no uncertain terms that he's in for a tough evening.

4' COOL AS YOU LIKE

Neymar drops deep to collect the ball and instantly tries to ping a long ball over the top to exploit Mbappe's pace. Upamecano is all over it though, matching Mbappe for speed before reading the flight of the ball and stepping in to head it to a teammate. Lovely stuff.

2' FORSBERG BOOKED

Ahh, that's unfortunate for Leipzig. Forsberg wins the ball in the centre circle and Leipzig work it forward down the left via Nkunku. He jinks in side and lays it off to Forsberg, who has space to shoot. His first touch is a tad loose though, allowing a defender to nick it off his toe. Forsberg sees a yellow card for a late challenge.

1' KICK-OFF!

Here we go! PSG get the ball rolling in Paris!

FORM

Neither side have been in particularly sparkling form in recent weeks, although Leipzig are unbeaten in their last three. Nagelsmann's side lost to both Manchester United and Borussia Mönchengladbach at the end of October, and this month have so far beaten PSG and Freiburg, before drawing with Frankfurt at the weekend.

The home side have won three of their last five outings, but have suffered defeats in two of their last three - to Monaco on Friday and to Leipzig at the start of the month.

MUKIELE: "THEY HAVE THEIR WEAPONS, WE HAVE OURS"

PSG's superstar attacking duo Neymar and Mbappe were both absent from that game three weeks ago, and while both a back in the starting line-up here, Leipzig defender Nordi Mukiele - himself a Paris native - is unfazed at the prospect of facing them.

"They two very big players, but we're playing 11 against 11," he said at Monday's pre-match press conference. "They have their weapons, but we have ours too." Chief among them this season is Angelino, who has two goals and an assist in the competition in 2020/21.

PREVIOUS MEETING

These teams last faced off in Leipzig on 4 November. Di Maria put PSG ahead as early as the sixth minute in a first half dominated by the away side, but they could not find the net again to cement their lead.

They were made to pay just before the break when former PSG midfielder Nkunku equalised from the edge of the area before Forsberg converted a penalty to put Leipzig in front. Gueye and Kimpembe were both sent off as PSG's frustrations got the better of them, leaving them to end the game with nine men. Both players are suspended for this one.

SIX CHANGES FROM TUCHEL

The PSG head coach has made wholesale changes to his side for this one after throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 against Monaco at the weekend. Kimpembe, Dagba, Rafinha, Sarabia, Kean and Kurzawa are reaplced by Marquinhos, Florenzi, Herrera, Paredes, Neymar and Bakker, the latter making his competition debut.

THREE CHANGES FROM NAGELSMANN

The Leipzig boss has tinkered with his starting line-up a little following the 1-1 draw away to Frankfurt on Saturday. Adams, Sorloth and Kampl all drop to the bench, with Mukiele, Forsberg and Poulsen starting in their stead.

HELLO AND WELCOME!

Thanks for joining us for a fixture that could make or break this season's Champions League campaign for either side. A win for Leipzig would put them six points ahead of PSG and leave them with one foot in the knockout stages, whereas a victory for the home side would arguably swing momentum their way and lift them above Nagelsmann's charges in the Group H standings on goal difference.

CONFIRMED line-ups

PSG: Navas - Florenzi, Danilo, Diallo, Bakker - Paredes, Marquinhos (c), Herrera - Di Maria, Mbappe, Neymar
Subs: Rico, Letellier, Verratti, Rafinha, Kean, Sarabia, Kurzawa, Dagba, Pembele, Ruiz-Atil, Fadiga
Out: Bernat (knee), Gueye (suspended), Draxler (hamstring), Icardi (knee), Kehrer (groin), Kimpembe (suspended)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel

Leipzig: Gulacsi - Mukiele, Konate, Upamecano, Angelino - Haidara, Sabitzer (c) - Nkunku, Olmo, Forsberg - Poulsen
Subs: Tschauner, Martinez, Orban, Adams, Sorloth, Samardzic, Kluivert, Henrichs, Borkowski, Kampl, Martel, Wosz
Out: Halstenberg (groin), Hwang (not included), Klostermann (knee), Laimer (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Watch: What makes Angelino such a special left sider

• Angelino has hand a direct hand in seven Leipzig goals in all competitions so far in 2020/21. Thirteen (one goal, 12 assists) is his career-best single-season return, set in 2018/19, whilst at PSV Eindhoven.
• Leipzig head coach Nagelsmann worked under PSG boss Tuchel at Augsburg after his playing career was ended by injury.
• Forsberg needs one more goal to become Leipzig’s record Champions League scorer. The Swede currently shares the lead on seven strikes with former forward Werner, following his effort against PSG on Matchday 3.
• Also on target last time out, Christopher Nkunku scored eight goals in 57 appearances across four seasons with PSG, before moving to Germany in 2019.
• Leipzig won three of their four away games in last season's Champions League, drawing the other.
• Juan Bernat, Diallo, Julian Draxler and Thilo Kehrer made 329 Bundesliga appearances between them in their pre-PSG days.

Upamecano was back in the starting line-up at the weekend for the first time since Leipzig hit back from a goal down to beat PSG in the reverse fixture. He was taken off at half-time in the 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, but is fit to start in the French capital. The 22-year-old is widely regarded as one of, if not the, best young central defenders in world football - and is one of many reasons why Mbappe and Co. should be worried. Manchester City-owned Angelino is setting the gold standard for left wing-backs in 2020/21 with his team-leading five goals and two assists, while Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg has rediscovered the level of form that helped Leipzig become the first team in history to make their UEFA competition debut in the Champions League group stage back in 2017/18. His three goals and two assists for the campaign put him second in the club's combined goals-and-assists charts, with the post-Timo Werner hole being suitably filled by 10 different players. Summer signing Hwang Hee-chan is one of them, but is currently self-isolating and won't travel. Defender Marcel Halstenberg is also out, with US international Tyler Adams on the bench. Leipzig travel to France in second spot in Group H, and will remain in the qualifying places if they avoid defeat.

PSG are three points worse off than Leipzig in third, following their 2-1 defeat at the Red Bull Arena. A repeat showing on home soil would leave their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds in tatters. Thomas Tuchel's preparations for the visit of former student Julian Nagelsmann haven't been ideal. Having lost from a winning position in Leipzig, lightning struck again against Monaco on Friday. Former Bayer Leverkusen forward Kevin Volland cancelled out an Mbappe brace with a double of his own as Niko Kovac's charges inflicted a 3-2 defeat on the reigning Ligue 1 champions and leaders - their fifth reverse in 15 competitive matches since losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the 2019/20 Champions League final. Tuchel has confirmed Neymar will start - the Brazilian having returned as a second-half substitute against Monaco to make his first appearance since the Champions League win at Istanbul Basaksehir on 28 October - but defender Presnel Kimpembe and midfielder Idrissa Gueye are suspended after receiving a pair of reckless red cards in Leipzig. Former Borussia Dortmund defender Abdou Diallo and Rafinha - the kid brother of ex-Bayern man Thiago - fill in.