Paris Saint-Germain convincing cantered to a 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League semifinals and advanced to the European competition’s championship game for the first time.
Angel Di Maria was brilliant with one goal and two assists, while Neymar was his usual mercurial self navigating his way through the Bundesliga side’s defense and recorded two assists for PSG. Finally Juan Bernat’s goal in the 56th minute clinched the victory for the French club and confirmed its first trip to the Champions League final.
“We ate them up from minute one,” said Di Maria, who was also the Man of the Match.
“It’s going to be tough to sleep between now and the final. We want to make history for the club. We succeeded tonight and we’re in the final; that’s very important. We have to continue like tonight to make our dream come true.”
One of Neymar’s shots hit the post after six minutes of play and had a goal disallowed for a handball shortly later, but this did not deter the Ligue 1 side from pressuring Leipzig with their persistent attacking and took the lead in the 13th minute when Neymar was fouled just outside of the penalty area and Di Maria’s ensuing free kick found the head of Marquinhos, who beat Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi with the header.
PSG rapidly capitalised on their advantage and doubled their lead three minutes before halftime when Di Maria buried a close-range chance after a spectacular pass from Neymar. The Parisians sealed their victory when Bernat headed in a cross from Di Maria near the hour mark.
Post-match, Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann conceded his club had no chance against PSG.
“We have to accept the result because we weren’t able to approach the game as we wanted,” Nagelsmann said. “They were better than us. Even if we could have made a lot of things better, maybe it would still not have been enough.
“They were flexible. We started well in the first half but then conceded the first goal and then the second from a mistake of ours.”
Paris Saint-Germain will play either Bayern Munich or Lyon in Sunday’s final as the two prepare for their clash.