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RB keeper Péter Gulácsi
Photo:
ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS
RB Leipzig has secured third place in its Champions League group and can therefore compete in the Europa League in the new year.
Two days after head coach Jesse Marsch left Leipzig, Leipzig won their home game against Manchester City 2-1 (1-0).
In the parallel game, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Club Bruges, so even one defeat would have been enough for third place.
Leipzig has seven points, Bruges has four points.
Manchester (12 points) had already been confirmed as group winners before the last day of the match.
Dominik Szoboszlai took the lead in Leipzig (24th minute).
He rounded the rushed City replacement keeper Zach Steffen and pushed into the empty gate.
As cool as the end was - the eye-catcher at this 1-0 was the assist. Konrad Laimer had switched quickly in the middle of the field and played down with a pass from the outside of the instep.
He gave the ball just the right amount of sharpness, it was a pass that would have been expected from City playmaker Kevin de Bruyne.
Later André Silva had a great chance to make it 2-0, but he did not head into the goal from close range, but rather goalkeeper Steffen (39th).
Otherwise it was mainly the English master who became dangerous.
City misses chances, Walker sees red
De Bruyne shot over the goal after İlkay Gündoğan was put down (17th), Jack Grealish narrowly missed it with his shot from around nine meters (22nd), Nathan Aké headed over from a corner (36th), Phil Foden scored the post (41.), De Bruyne failed again with a free kick to RB goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi (44.) - that Leipzig went into the break without conceding a goal came as a surprise.
But: City it was noted that it was no longer about anything essential against Leipzig.
The players rarely reached their usual level.
In addition, there was Leipzig's good performance, the Bundesliga team managed to largely contain the opposing offensive after the break.
After André Silva scored the 2-0 after Emil Forsbergs' preliminary work, the victory seemed perfect.
It was still hectic.
First because Riyad Mahrez scored 2-1 after a perfect cross from Oleksandr Zinchenko (77th).
Then Kyle Walker saw the red card for a gross foul on André Silva (83).
But because the equalization no longer succeeded, the debut of interim coach Achim Beierlorzer was a success.
In the second game of the early evening PSG gave Bruges no chance. Or rather, the superstars Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi gave Bruges no chance. After the first leg in Belgium was still 1-1, the matter was decided in the second leg after seven minutes. First Mbappé benefited from an unclean ball from Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and scored to take the lead (2nd), then the striker increased after a flash of inspiration from Ángel di María (7th). Messi scored the 3-0 (38th) with a flick from around 18 meters, Mbappé had prepared the goal.
The third PSG star striker, Neymar, was out injured, he watched from the stands and experienced an urge phase from the underdog after the break.
The Bruges professionals finally made a goal out of their chances, Mats Rits was the shooter (68th).
The final point was set again by Messi, who was fouled in the penalty area and then converted the penalty himself (76th).
It was his fifth Champions League goal for PSG in his fifth appearance.
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