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Champions League | Semi-Finals
Aug 18, 2020 at 8pm UK
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
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RB Leipzig
0 - 3
PSG


Laimer (61'), Halstenberg (79'), Poulsen (79')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Marquinhos (13'), di Maria (42'), Bernat (56')
Kimpembe (45+3')

Kylian Mbappe fit to start Champions League semi-final against RB Leipzig

The winners will face Lyon or Bayern Munich in Sunday's final.

Kylian Mbappe is set to start as Paris St Germain face Leipzig for a place in the Champions League final on Tuesday.

The World Cup-winning France striker came off the bench to set up the stoppage-time winner as PSG dramatically came from behind to beat Atalanta in their quarter-final in Lisbon last Wednesday.

The 21-year-old had been limited to the final 30 minutes after struggling with an ankle injury but now looks set for longer involvement.

Mbappe (right) came off the bench as PSG produced a dramatic late fightback against Atalanta
Mbappe (right) came off the bench as PSG produced a dramatic late fightback against Atalanta (David Ramos/AP)

Coach Thomas Tuchel said at a press conference: "He has had no reaction and had six days since to work on fitness, so of course he can start.

"We will decide after training whether he can play 90 minutes."

Mbappe's return at the Estadio da Luz would restore his partnership with Neymar, who was also instrumental in PSG's late recovery against Atalanta by teeing up their last-minute equaliser.

Tuchel said: "Neymar has always been a leader, even when I arrived. He is showing confidence, courage, and that's how a leader needs to act on the pitch."

Thomas Tuchel insists the weight of expectation is not a burden for PSG
Thomas Tuchel insists the weight of expectation is not a burden for PSG (Martin Rickett/PA)

It is the first time PSG have reached the last four in 25 years and the first time since their Qatari-backed takeover in 2011 saw expectations and ambition swell.

"We are here because we deserve it," Tuchel said. "We played a great season and worked so hard, took every match seriously.

"We won't talk about the past – only the present. We're hungry for success, to succeed."

Tuchel will come up against fellow German Julian Nagelsmann, who was one of his players when he coached the Augsburg reserve team early in his career. Nagelsmann, 33, is now regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the game but it was an injury, and an idea from Tuchel, that launched his career 13 years ago.

Julian Nagelsmann is a highly-rated young coach
Julian Nagelsmann is a highly-rated young coach (John Walton/PA)

Tuchel said: "Unfortunately he was always injured but I asked him if he could scout and help me. He did a great job and look what's become of him."

Nagelsmann later took up the story.

He said: "I got paid as a player but I was injured and there was a choice I had to make in order to fund my studies, so I got the chance to scout and analyse the opponents.

"I never imagined back then I'd make it to a Champions League semi and play against him."

Leipzig claimed a shock win over Atletico Madrid
Leipzig claimed a shock win over Atletico Madrid (Lluis Gene/AP)

Funded by Red Bull, Leipzig have made a rapid ascent through the German footballing ranks and they produced a shock to reach the semi-finals by beating Atletico Madrid last week.

Nagelsmann said: "The players really have the will to win, we are hungry and I can see that in their faces.

"We were great against Atleti and now we have a chance against Paris. We want to take the next step and are ready for that."

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Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


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