RB Leipzig 2-1 PSG : 5 Talking Points as 9-man Parisians lose the plot in Germany | UEFA Champions League 2020-21

RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group H - UEFA Champions League
RB Leipzig v Paris Saint-Germain: Group H - UEFA Champions League

#3 PSG feel the absence of Mauro Icardi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe

Paris Saint-Germain forwards Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain forwards Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe

There will be plenty little sympathy for such a monied club like PSG suffering from injuries, but the Parisians could have really used the likes of Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe tonight.

Moise Kean and Angel di Maria weren't particularly bad - in fact there's an argument to be made that Kean performed quite well, but just lacked the finishing touch.

That's precisely what PSG missed tonight - the extra 1% that separates the best from the rest. Leipzig were there for the taking in the first half, and had Neymar, Mbappe and Icardi been on the pitch for the Parisians tonight, it could have been a much worse scoreline.


#2 Julian Nagelsmann's defensive rejig changed the game

RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann
RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann

RB Leipzig are the third best defence in the Bundesliga, but they looked anything but in the first half. Fans would surely have been left scratching their head as Julian Nagelsmann once again played a high backline that was punished so heavily by Manchester United.

Dayot Upamecano looked like a deer caught in headlights and not the €50 million defender top clubs in Europe are after. His misplaced pass in the 6th minute led to the opener and he conceded a penalty soon after. With Ibrahima Konate and Willi Orban looking nervous alongside him, there was plenty of concern for Leipzig going into the break.

However, Nagelsmann tweaked his tactics in the second half, as Leipzig were far more circumspect and not as gung-ho, with their backline sitting deep. Their defence looked transformed, and dealt with whatever PSG could throw at them, ultimately resulting in the win.

Nagelsmann is still a young manager, but tonight would have been in education for him in the value of a cautious outlook against the big teams.


#1 Tonight's defeat may have had a huge effect on Thomas Tuchel's future

Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel
Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel

It's perhaps hyperbolic to claim Thomas Tuchel's job is in danger, especially given PSG are top of Ligue 1 and look set to claim another title. However, the powers-that-be at PSG want the UEFA Champions League, and after a last gasp win over Atalanta in the quarterfinals, Tuchel admitted he had escaped the sack.

The loss to RB Leipzig places PSG in real danger - Istanbul Basaksehir have shown they're no pushovers, and Manchester United and Leipzig already know how to defeat the Parisians.

Going out in the group stages would be catastrophic for PSG, and Tuchel will be facing plenty of sleepless nights as he plots a comeback. After all, his job depends on it.

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Edited by Parimal
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