André Silva from RB Leipzig: He wanted to celebrate his breakthrough. Then he let the show be stolen from him

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André Silva forgives from the penalty spot and missed the 2-0

Photo: FILIP SINGER / EPA

Actually, the comparison is lagging.

André Silva from RB Leipzig is a striker, he should score goals.

Paris Saint Germain star Georginio Wijnaldum belongs to a team with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, he plays behind the superstars and stays in defensive midfield to fill the gaps that the Paris attackers left him.

Silva from RB and the Parisian Wijnaldum could hardly have more different roles in their teams.

But they went to this Champions League evening in Leipzig with a task that connects them with each other: They are in their new teams looking for a breakthrough.

After the 2: 2 (1: 2) on the fourth group matchday and the now established out of the Saxons in the premier class, it must be noted that only one of the two players came very close to this breakthrough.

At first it looked like Silva would become that player.

In any case, it was a moment that was just right for him, a moment that would have changed a lot for Silva and brought him a great deal closer to his final arrival at RB.

In the eighth minute, the attacker had already prepared the opening goal through Christopher Nkunku, now, three minutes later, Silva had fallen in the penalty area.

And he almost reached for the ball while falling, so the question of whether he or veteran Emil Forsberg should compete was decided.

There is an ancient soccer proverb that the foul should not shoot.

But André Silva came with the recommendation of 28 Bundesliga clubs in the preseason from Eintracht Frankfurt, including seven by penalty, in seven attempts.

Of course, Silva had to reach for the ball at that moment, football myths or not.

Crack after the penalty kick

Recently he had often sat on the bench and only got joker bets, he was playing with Jesse Marsch's switch game.

And mostly Silva was a weapon in the air, he got nine hits with his head last year.

But in Leipzig there is no Filip Kostic who serves him the balls so hot.

So now a penalty kick, and a penalty kick is and remains a penalty, this task has been his easiest exercise so far.

Then Silva failed to PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

And with this awarded penalty, the evening, which had started so well for the second most expensive entry in the Leipzig club's history (23 million euros transfer fee), got a crack, also for the Leipzig teammates.

"We could have made it easier for ourselves with the penalty," said Konrad Laimer later about the missed 2-0, without reproaching Silva: "It's not that bad."

Coach Marsch expressed himself similarly.

"It's a shame André shot." That didn't sound angry, but not happy either.

Another player got more affection for this one, the affection of the entire team.

By the 40th minute, all of the Paris field players had gathered around Wijnaldum and they wouldn't let him go for a few moments.

They cheered him up.

The Dutchman had scored the 2-1 with a header shortly before, in the 21st minute he was already successful after a submission by Mbappé with the goal to equalize.

So far, many short assignments

How much they celebrated him, how much they were all happy with him about his two goals, even a passerby passing by would have got the impression that these celebrations must have a history.

And they have that too.

Wijnaldum, 30, came to Paris in the summer as a regular from Liverpool FC and captain of the Dutch team, and scored three goals at the European Championships.

The midfield motor came free of charge and did not cost millions, as we are used to here at the Qatar-funded club.

But with Wijnaldum there was still someone who was trusted to play a major role in the Starelf.

Instead, the interim conclusion so far has been: many short missions, no goal participation, he has only played a minor role so far.

In an interview, Wijnaldum recently expressed himself critically and said that he first had to get to know his teammates.

French media recently wrote that superstar Lionel Messi had formed a South American clique that would rather see Leandro Paredes in defensive midfield.

Parades is like Messi Argentine.

Maybe that's just whispering, maybe there's more to it.

In any case, the cheers for the match winner were remarkable.

And neither Parades nor Messi cheered, both had to sign off injured.

With the point in Leipzig PSG reached the round of 16 ahead of schedule, and Wijnaldum had a large share with his two goals.

In the absence of Messi, he played a slightly more offensive role without neglecting his defensive duties.

He ran a lot, he chased the ball carrier, he did the work that you have to do at PSG when you play behind Neymar and Co.

He is a member of the clean-up team, which, however, had enormous problems in the first 20 minutes against Leipzig.

PSG made a name for themselves in the summer, with Wijnaldum and Messi also joining Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi and goalkeeper Donnarumma.

The final point belongs to Szoboszlai

But, it seems, the newly formed PSG is still a long way from its first Champions League win under Qatari leadership in its current condition.

That evening, however, Wijnaldum was able to celebrate as the match winner, and his conclusion on his own performance was brief: "I hope I will continue like this," he said, apparently exhausted.

The evening should get a final punch.

In stoppage time Dominik Szoboszlai had scored to equalize Leipzig, with a penalty.

How André Silva followed the 2-2 is unclear.

He was replaced in the 59th minute.

But he should have been happy, because at least RB remains in the fight for the Europa League.

But he may also have shrugged: With Szoboszlai's successful shot, Silva should have fallen one position back on the shooter list when taking a penalty.

His breakthrough in Leipzig is not yet in sight.