RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain lock horns at Lisbon in the first semifinal of UEFA Champions League 2019-20.
Team Preview
PSG and Leipzig are eying to clinch first ever Champions League Final in their history. Thomas Tuchel's side put a remarkable comeback against Atalanta BC in the quarterfinal by taking the game 2-1 before going 1-0 down. Goals from Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting broke the hearts of Seria A club with a bearest margin in quarterfinals.
The Red Bulls have an upper hand on their Tuesday rivals, winning seven of their last eight knockout European games. It was the first semi-final for the French Champions since 1995. Meanwhile, the German Club are on cloud nine after adding milestones in their club history. Leipzig escaped the quarterfinal huddle against Atletico Madrid to secure maiden Champions League semifinal. Tyler Adams came off the bench to strike for Leipzig to break the heart of the Spanish Club. The club who was founded in 2008 and took part in Bundesliga in 2016, claimed the semifinal spot and two wins away to get the Champions League title.
German Outfit’s journey to the top four was not a fluke as they defeated strong opponents comprehensively. Julian Nagelsmann's side finished third, only behind to Bayern and Dortmund in Bundesliga 2019-20 and during the successive campaign, they lost only four games their 34 games at Germany’s top flight. Winner of this game will face either Bayern or Lyon in the final.
Team News & Lineups
RB Leipzig
Timo Werner will be a big miss for Leipzig as he moved to Chelsea this season. Nagelsmann may go with the same lineup played against Atletico Madrid.
Lineup: Gulacsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg, Angelino; Laimer, Kampl; Sabitzer, Olmo, Nkunku; Poulsen
Champions League form: W D D W W W
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG are expected to miss the services of midfielder Marco Verratti and goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Angel Di Maria who was suspended against Atalanta will be back into the XI. Layvin Kurzawa will sit on the bench due to a thigh injury. Kylian Mbappe recovered from an ankle injury and will start on Tuesday.
Lineup: Rico; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Di Maria, Paredes, Marquinhos, Neymar; Mbappe, Icardi
Champions League form: W D W L W W
Key Players
RB Leipzig
Emil Forsberg (forward): 4 goals
Marcel Sabitzer (forward): 4 goals
Hwang Hee-Chan (midfielder): 3 goals
Paris Saint-Germain
Mauro Icardi (forward): 5 goals
Neymar (forward): 3 goals
