Paris (AFP)

Leader of its group, Paris SG can get closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League by beating RB Leipzig on Tuesday (8:45 p.m.), with Lionel Messi back, but without Neymar, injured in the groin.

The narrow success against Angers (2-1), Friday in the league, summed up the paradox of the start of the season for PSG, which wins without dominating in the game.

Failing to meet the enormous expectations raised by their workforce of superstars, Parisians are putting forward an accounting balance sheet in line with their ambitions.

It is as if their situation had not changed much since the RBL's last visit to the Parc des Princes on November 24, 2020.

Behind closed doors, the Saxons had a monopoly of possession and opportunities, but PSG Thomas Tuchel had narrowly won thanks to a penalty from Neymar (1-0).

Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain vs Leipzig Vincent LEFAI AFP

Today, coach Mauricio Pochettino would sign for the same result, as this match appears to be a turning point for qualification.

"Like Leipzig, we need the victory. Faced with a team which plays with a lot of energy, there will be periods during the match where it will be necessary to be compact", warned the Argentinian technician.

- Leipzig in slow motion -

Neck to neck with Manchester City (3 points) and the surprise Bruges (4 pts) after two days in Group A, PSG (4 pts) has the opportunity to remove Leipzig (0 pt) from the race .

Semi-finalists in 2020, the Red Bull-owned club have shown in recent years that they are more than an underdog, with their tantalizing attacking style shaped by the talent of their young players.

But this season, the French side Christopher Nkunku and Nordi Mukiele are not doing so well, after executives Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer as well as coach Julian Nagelsmann all left for Bayern Munich this summer.

Leipzig striker Yussuf Poulsen struggles to pass the double defensive curtain of Club Brugge during the loss conceded at home in the Champions League, September 28, 2021 Odd ANDERSEN AFP / Archives

The club with the red bulls, 8th in the Bundesliga, sticks out its tongue before entering the arena of the Porte de Saint-Cloud, at the risk of seeing the Parisians take the blow to its European ambitions.

However, the public expects a little more than that: Paris must play well, especially as Pochettino will be able to count on Messi, absent from the meeting in Angers because of the hyper-dense international calendar that has kept him in South America with the selection of Argentina.

At his side, Kylian Mbappé remains on a good performance against the SCO, with a goal and an assist, in the wake of his full rally with the Blues, concluded by the title in the League of Nations.

Kylian Mbappé decisive scorer in the victory of Paris against SCO Angers in the league at the Parc des Princes, October 15, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

Facing the Parisian superstars, "maybe a line with seven defenders would be a possibility," smiled Saxons coach Jesse Marsch.

But an hour after its press conference, PSG announced that the third thief of the "MNM", the Brazilian Neymar, forfeited due to pain in the adductors.

- Neymar absent -

"The priority is always the health of the players. + Ney + has a small problem. I hope it is only a matter of a few days", reacted Pochettino, without saying if the superstar was going to be back for the "Clasico" of Ligue 1 in Marseille, Sunday.

For the Argentinian coach, who admitted that there was work to build a strong collective around the magic trio, it is still time wasted.

The absence of Neymar, added to the suspension of Angel Di Maria and the uncertainties around Mauro Icardi (personal problems), complicates the thinking of Pochettino, who should renew the 4-3-3 that has worked so well against Manchester City .

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino closely follows Neymar in match day training at Camp des Loges, October 18, 2021 FRANCK FIFE AFP

In the cages, "I made my choice" between Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas, he assured, without revealing the name of the holder.

The Costa Rican, who was injured with his selection during the break, participated in the collective morning session.

Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes (quadriceps), absent until the end of November, and Spanish defender Sergio Ramos (calf) remain in the infirmary, with Neymar.

This makes for a nice CV unavailable ... but PSG have no excuse, as Pochettino repeats, not to shine.

© 2021 AFP