Leipzig (Germany) (AFP)

Paris SG, without Neymar or Kylian Mbappé, fell in Leipzig (2-1) on Wednesday and finds themselves in a perilous position with a view to qualifying for the round of 16, before the return phase.

The only good news of the evening for the Parisians came from Istanbul: the surprise loss of leader Manchester United against Basaksehir (2-1) prevents the English from taking off.

Thomas Tuchel's players, third, thus remain in the race for the first two places, despite a second setback after that against the "Red Devils" (2-1), on October 20 at the Parc des Princes, which forced them to win their last three matches.

PSG, under the Qatari era that began in 2011, had never conceded two defeats in the group stage.

But he has already qualified with 12 points (2016/17) and even less, during the 2018/19 season (11 pts).

All is not lost, therefore.

But given his latest performances, it's not won for the outgoing finalist either: he will have to beat Leipzig in the capital on November 24 and then win at Old Trafford the following week.

- Gueye and Kimpembe excluded -

For the revenge at the Parc des Princes, Paris will have to do without Idrissa Gueye or Presnel Kimpembe, excluded during a second period which turned into a nightmare.

In the closed doors of the Red Bull Arena, PSG let slip a match that he nevertheless held well in hand in the first period.

Paris may well have achieved 40 full first minutes, perhaps the best of its start to the season, it paid dearly for its lack of efficiency.

Between the arrested penalty of Di Maria (15th), and the failures of Kean (9th) and Pablo Sarabia (39th), the big opportunities harvested paraded like a Halloween film released late.

The goal of Christopher Nkunku (41st) and the penalty of Emil Forsberg (57th) ended up revealing the limits of the Parisians, physically below at the end of the match and deprived of a spark from the absent creators Mbappé and Neymar for make it out.

That Lisbon seems far away for the Parisians and their German coach, more than ever in the eye of the storm.

Still, they blew a hot wind from Portugal at the start of the season, with ingredients reminiscent of their August epic.

Paris initially held its rank, putting everything it had lacked against Manchester United: intensity, cohesion and a direct game that suits it better in the absence of its best dribblers.

From the contribution of Moise Kean, precious in his deviations, to the aggressive counter-pressing of his midfielders, PSG believed to revive the Germans the same scenario as in Final 8.

- Decisive Nkunku -

His opening scoring, on a stray ball from Dayot Upamecano intercepted by Moise Kean, whom Di Maria then transformed from an outside left (6th), spoke of the big mistakes made by Leipzig in Portugal to offer easy success to the Parisians (3-0).

Scorer and decisive double passer in the semi-final, the Argentine was back ... until the missed penalty, after a hand from Upamecano, who recalled that the summer was over.

Paris cracked, and its defenders did not help it.

Marquinhos placed himself too low, like a central defender rather than the midfielder he has become again, to let Nkunku, the former Parisian, adjust Keylor Navas with a shot from 20 meters.

Presnel Kimpembe then committed a hand in his area, on a long center from Angelino, who gave a penalty to the Germans, transformed by Forsberg.

Mass was said for these Parisians, unable to hold the ball without Mbappé, Neymar or Marco Verratti.

The three executives are expected in three weeks against the Saxons.

This time, Paris will no longer have the right to make mistakes.

© 2020 AFP