Champions League: in Leipzig, PSG must win ... and finally convince

Cyrille de la Morinerie, with Europe 1 and AFP 3:15 p.m., November 3, 2021

Far from its bases, deprived of its jewel Lionel Messi, can Paris Saint-Germain take advantage of this fourth match of the group stage of the Champions League to reassure observers? Not really sparkling in the game, the capital club can already take an important step towards qualifying for the round of 16 if successful on the field of RB Leipzig on Wednesday evening at 9 p.m. A Parisian victory would extend the beautiful autumn of French football, magnified Tuesday by the feat of Lille in Seville (2-1). This makes eleven consecutive matches without defeat for the hexagonal clubs in the three European cups.

At the top of its group after three days, PSG has so far experienced a course without much turbulence, except for the inaugural draw in Bruges (1-1).

The final phase is only a handful of points for the teammates of Marquinhos, winners of their last two matches.

A third success in a row will not be synonymous with qualifying, but almost, especially if Manchester City beat Bruges at the same time.

In England, the coach of the "Sky Blues" Pep Guardiola assured Tuesday that the reception of the Belgians "was more important than the derby (against Manchester United, Saturday)".

Parisians as Mancuniens are eyeing the first place of the group, which could be played between them during the next day, November 24, at the Etihad Stadium.

Pochettino's "serious style problem"

But in view of its workforce of superstars, Paris must go further than the simple accounting statement: it must win with the manner, which it did not do in the first leg (3-2) on October 19. . After the meeting, Kylian Mbappé had recognized that his team "was not playing well" and that it "had to do better".

Since this meeting, the Parisians have not shown clear signs of progress. They won again in extremis on Friday against Lille (2-1), in the Championship, with a goal in the 88th minute from Angel di Maria. The Argentinian winger's return from suspension opens up good development prospects for coach Mauricio Pochettino. "Pocket" can also count on Mbappé, recovered from an ENT infection which deprived him of the last match, and Neymar, good against Losc.

"Seeking results and good functioning is the reality of the team," said the Argentine technician on Tuesday, who should continue his tactical experiments, such as the three-way defense.

In Leipzig, "identity check" headlines the sports daily

on Wednesday

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"Pochettino: a serious problem of style", answers him in echo

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In attack, the absence of Messi, embarrassed in a thigh and a knee, will delay the research of the Argentine coach, on the best way to develop the "MNM".

Leipzig shows its confidence

"Any team with Messi is stronger. But for 'Leo' as for me, it's a new team. He still has to adapt. The difference today, with or without him, is not that big." , assured the midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, also a dilettante since his arrival. "The collective of the PSG is not limited to a single player", explained the American coach of the RBL, Jesse Marsch, who prepared his players for the "difficult task, in the one against one", of containing the Parisians.

The "Pulga", who had signed a double in the first leg, joined the infirmary Marco Verratti, another important element in the animation of the Parisian game. These absences give hope to the Germans, the last of the group, who beat PSG during their last visit to Saxony (2-1) last year. Absent in the first leg, the Spanish international Dani Olmo should also be able to play. "Everything is open until the end. We know that we are a very good team. You can beat any club at home," said Danish striker Yusuf Poulsen.

In the other meetings, Liverpool, opposed to Atlético de Madrid, and Ajax Amsterdam, visiting Borussia Dortmund, have the opportunity to validate their ticket for the round of 16, as Bayern Munich did on Tuesday. and Juventus Turin.