The Pak Banker

PSG beat Leipzig to reach first Champions League final

- LISBON -REUTERS

Paris St Germain beat German club RB Leipzig 30 to reach their first-ever Champions League final.

Goals from Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria put PSG 2-0 up at the interval and Juan Bernat added the third in the 56th minute for what was a comfortabl­e victory at the Estadio da Luz. The French club, celebratin­g the 50th anniversar­y of their founding in 1970, will meet the winner of Wednesday's other semi between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais after ending what some felt was a mental block in the knockout stages.

PSG have gone out in the last 16 for the past three years, but they proved a step too far for Leipzig, who were playing in the regional leagues just 11 years ago. The Germans, financed by the Red Bull energy drink company, have outperform­ed all expectatio­ns by reaching the last four, knocking out Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid en route.

"We showed quality and determinat­ion. A good mix. We deserved to win," said Tuchel, who had faced a heavy expectatio­n to deliver in Europe this season.

"I felt the pressure, it was not easy. I have players who are used to playing with this pressure, who like this pressure and these decisive matches." With French World Cup winning forward Kylian Mbappe back in the starting line-up after fully recovering from his ankle injury, Tuchel was able to field his preferred attacking trident with Brazilian Neymar and Di Maria.

Right from the outset, PSG looked a threat to the Leipzig defence with Neymar clipping the post after he was slipped in by Mbappe in the sixth minute. Seven minutes later though, PSG had the lead - Neymar and Di Maria lined up to take a free kick on the left and it was the Argentine who floated in a lovely cross which was nodded home by Marquinhos.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger Di Maria was in fine form, constantly probing, while Neymar created from deep and Mbappe pushed on to the last defender looking to use his pace. The Germans were struggling but did threaten in the 25th minute when Konrad Laimer burst down the right and found Yussuf Poulsen but the forward's shot was just off target.

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