Champions League: PSG shows RB Leipzig the limits and is in the final for the first time

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Have reason to celebrate: Ángel di María and Neymar are in the Champions League final

David Ramos / POOL / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock

Paris Saint-Germain made it into the final of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. The French champions won 3-0 (2-0) against RB Leipzig. In the German coaching duel between Thomas Tuchel and his former protégé Julian Nagelsmann, the goals of Marquinhos (13th minute), Ángel di María (42nd) and Juan Bernat (56th) made the clear difference.

In the quarter-finals against Atalanta, PSG had a hard time finding their way into the game and for a long time only became dangerous through Neymar's individual actions. There was no sign of that against Leipzig: The Parisians tied the Bundesliga club deep into their own half from the start. Goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi found hardly any pass points in his own penalty area, as Neymar, di María and Kylian Mbappé attacked their opponents immediately.

Then there was the joke of the Parisian superstars: After Mbappé's pass into the interface between the Leipzig external and central defense, Neymar spitted the ball on the outside post (6th). A minute later, Gulácsi shot Neymar, who had put the Hungarians under pressure to build up, by the hand. Mbappé shot the free ball into the goal, but the hit did not count due to the handball.

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Often challenged, sometimes overwhelmed: Leipzig goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi

A standard situation ensured the lead: Di María brought a free kick from the left with a cut into the six-yard area, Marquinhos headed powerfully into the far corner (13th). Mbappé had the chance to score the next goal from a suspicious position, but the world champion failed from close range to Gulácsi (17th).

Leipzig hardly got possession of the ball. It took 28 minutes until the first good opportunity: Konrad Laimer had prevailed on the right wing, but Yussuf Poulsen did not bring the Austrian's low cross on goal. Then PSG took control again. Neymar hit the post with a free kick from 30 meters (36th), di María hit the goal from close range (42nd). The goal was preceded by another mistake by Gulácsis.

Bernat's first header makes the decision

At the break, Nagelsmann rearranged his offensive: Patrik Schick was a second striker for ex-PSG talent Christopher Nkunku, Emil Forsberg replaced Dani Olmo as playmaker. The goal was made by Paris: After winning the ball, Bernat headed a Di María cross into the goal from close range (56th). It was the first header goal in the professional career of the 1.70 meter tall full-back, who was under contract with FC Bayern from 2014 to 2018.

The Paris final opponent for Sunday evening will decide on Wednesday (9 p.m., live ticker SPIEGEL, stream: DAZN, TV: Sky) between Olympique Lyon and FC Bayern Munich. In the final, the next duel between Ligue 1 and Bundesliga is possible - or the first final between two French clubs in the history of the Champions League.

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