Christopher Nkunku made his mark against his former team as RB Leipzig secured an important 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
Following a thumping 5-0 defeat Manchester United last week, RB Leipzig managed to return to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
PSG weren’t dominant side at the start, but it was a poor beginning to the proceedings for their opponents as Angel Di Maria found the opener within the sixth minute. Not long after that, the Argentine missed a penalty, which turned out to be costly for PSG as Leipzig responded well, creating some notable chances before levelling the scoring through Christopher Nkunku just before half-time.
FULL-TIME: @RBLeipzig_EN 2-1 @PSG_English
A defeat tonight in Germany as we end the match with 9 men. #RBLPSG pic.twitter.com/6m5ZeqiM89
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 4, 2020
Things turned miserable for PSG in the second half when Presnel Kimpembe conceded a penalty in the 57th minute, allowing Emil Forsberg to put Leipzig 2-1 up. It was followed by Idrissa Gueye’s second yellow card, effectively killing any chances for the away side to make a comeback.
PSG’s night was further compounded by a second yellow for Kimpembe, who brought down Yussuf Poulsen as he looked clean through on goal. Although Leipzig failed to score a goal, their 2-1 defeat means that the French giants now need to make a massive recovery in order to qualify for the next round, having already lost two of their three matches.
Here, at The Hard Tackle, we will take a look at both the sides and their individual performances following the exciting clash in the Champions League on Wednesday.
RB Leipzig
Peter Gulacsi: 7.5/10
Peter Gulacsi’s penalty save to deny Di Maria was the turning point out of the game and the goalkeeper deserves a lot of plaudits for keeping his side in the game throughout the night.
Ibrahima Konate: 6/10
Ibrahima Konate lacked disciplined and looked shaky at the back throughout the first half. Improved as the game progressed, but it was more due to PSG’s own futility.
Dayot Upamecano: 4/10
Dayot Upamecano’s poor backpass led to PSG’s opener. The Frenchman also conceded the penalty that was fortunately for him, missed by Di Maria. Not the best of performances from the Frenchman.
⚠️ | QUICK STAT
Dayot Upamecano has now committed just his 2nd error leading to a goal in 123 matches he's played for RB Leipzig, with the only other coming in a Bundesliga match against Leverkusen on 9 Apr 2018.
Even the brightest talents sometimes make mistakes.#UCL #RBLPSG pic.twitter.com/GT8SEHChIw
— SofaScore (@SofaScoreINT) November 4, 2020
Willi Orban: 6.5/10
Despite being the most experienced defender for Leipzig, Willi Orban failed to provide much assurance at the back, especially in the first half. But like Konate, he improved after the restart.
Nordi Mukiele: 7/10
Nordi Mukiele was a vital cog in the Leipzig backline, providing solidity on the right flank and notably creating one excellent opportunity for Amadou Haidara. Lacked fitness and was rightly taken off around the hour mark.
Marcel Sabitzer: 6.5/10
Marcel Sabitzer had a difficult time controlling the game in the middle of the park. He wasn’t much solid in the second line of press either. One could even argue that Kevin Kampl might have been the better option.
Amadou Haidara: 7/10
Missed an excellent chance to score in the first half, but the midfielder did much more than Sabitzer in terms of support and control in the middle of the park.
Angelino: 8.5/10
After successive bad games, Angelino managed to return to good form with an exceptional display against PSG. He was a livewire on the left flank, creating numerous opportunities, notably providing the pass that led to Nkunku’s equaliser.
Christopher Nkunku: 9/10
Showed what he is capable of with an excellent performance against his former side. Nkunku simply looked the most active and passionate player out on the field and helped his team get back into the game with a brilliant strike just before half-time. Was involved in most attacking moments.
? | FOCUS
Christopher Nkunku vs PSG:
⏱️ 90' played
? 70 touches
⚽️ 1 goal
? 2 shots/1 on target
? 1 key pass
? 1/1 succ. dribbles
⚔️ 14/20 duels won (most on the pitch)
❌ 6 tackles (most on the pitch)
? 8.0 SofaScore ratingMan of the match tonight! ?#UCL #RBLPSG pic.twitter.com/8j0NWxH3v3
— SofaScore (@SofaScoreINT) November 4, 2020
Emil Forsberg: 7.5/10
Emil Forsberg put in a great shift in the offensive department. Despite his not so intimidating frame, the Swede made life difficult for the PSG defenders with his constant runs and pressures throughout the game. He was rewarded with a goal in the second half, albeit through a penalty.
Dani Olmo 6/10
Not the best of performances from Dani Olmo, who simply wasn’t involved in the game.
SUBSTITUTES
Yussuf Poulsen: 7/10
Provided more energy and physicality after coming on after the hour-mark, making life more difficult for the PSG defenders. Won the second yellow card for Kimpembe.
Benjamin Henrichs: 6.5/10
Offered a more stable presence on the right flank. Looked much better than he did during the last game against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Justin Kluivert: 6/10
Was involved in the game after replacing Forsberg during the final phase of the match.
Tyler Adams: 6.5/10
Tyler Adams offered creativity and incision in Lepizig’s play after coming on as a late substitute for Haidara.
Kevin Kampl: N/A
A late replacement for Sabitzer. Did not play enough to warrant a rating.
Paris Saint-Germain
Keylor Navas: 6.5/10
Made an excellent save early on to deny Haidara, but couldn’t do much otherwise.
Alessandro Florenzi: 6/10
Blocked the shot from Angelino that might have tested Navas. But the Italian had a hard time dealing with the Leipzig fullback for the remainder of the game.
Danilo Pereira 6.5/10
Danilo looked quite competent at the back, but was rather unlucky to not receive proper support from his teammates.
Presnel Kimpembe: 2/10
A horrible night for Kimpembe, who conceded the penalty in the second half before being sent off late in the game.
Presnel Kimpembe was on a yellow card for PSG.
Presnel Kimpembe then did this. pic.twitter.com/8FQMw3hhhE
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 4, 2020
Layvin Kurzawa: 4/10
Clumsy as always, Kurzawa once again shows his frailty against top teams. Not the brightest of performances despite less pressure from Mukiele.
Idrissa Gueye: 4/10
A rash tackle that led to his second yellow, putting PSG in a spot of bother with no chance of making a comeback. Very irresponsible from the ex-Everton man.
Marquinhos: 6.5/10
Marquinhos was decent in the middle of the park. His strength, grit and determination were key in denying the Leipzig midfielders from dominating this game.
Ander Herrera: 5/10
Ander Herrera was anonymous for the most part in the game, even when PSG were dominating proceedings.
Angel Di Maria: 7/10
Angel Di Maria scored the opener. but missed the penalty which cost PSG two points, at the very least. He was a menace for the Leipzig defenders but had a quiet second half.
A great start!
Moise Kean's determination to get the loose ball pays off as he plays in Di Maria who finishes well! 1-0! pic.twitter.com/Rzht3zqFbl
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) November 4, 2020
Moise Kean: 7/10
Moise Kean looked in excellent touch and created quite a few opportunities. Scored one goal that was ruled out due to offside.
Pablo Sarabia: 5/10
While Di Maria and Kean caused problems for the Leipzig backline, Pablo Sarabia had a relatively quiet game.
SUBSTITUTES
Mitchel Bakker: 6/10
Replaced Kurzawa during the final phase of the game – a change that should have been made at the start.
Thilo Kehrer: 6/10
Did not provide much solidity after replacing Florenzi late in the game.
Rafinha: N/A
A late replacement for Sarabia. Didn’t play enough to warrant a rating.
