In the end, the scenario of the first leg did not happen again. No stunning victory or happy heist. While he had managed to pass in front after being quickly led to the score, and passed very close to the abyss, Paris Saint-Germain was surprised at the very end of the match by RB Leipzig on Wednesday 3 November. Mauricio Pochettino’s men had to settle for a draw (2-2) and miss the opportunity to take a big step towards the knockout stages.
Faced with the Germans forced to avoid defeat to stay alive in the competition, the Parisians made the mistake of believing themselves safe and sound once the storm had passed. Miraculously after a catastrophic start to the match, they kept the lead for more than 50 minutes, without ever making a break. The penalty came in added time, when the VAR sanctioned a foul by Presnel Kimpembe in his penalty area, synonymous with a penalty. Dominik Szoboszlai did not tremble to snatch the equalizer (90 + 2).
Once but not twice for Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had already saved a penalty in the 12th minute. His save against André Silva, crucial because Leipzig was already leading 1-0 thanks to a superb header from the former Parisian Christopher Nkunku (8th), had everything to turn the match. He had allowed Paris to stay alive, to keep the opportunity to come back with just one chance. Still rocked by his ultra-realism in the European Cup, the capital club took advantage of it.
What a funny end to the game. PSG is sanctioned in the last moments. Kimpembe guilty of a foul on Nkunku in the box. Penalty, this time transformed by Szoboszlai. pic.twitter.com/cjqbQc4BEK
– RMC Sport (@RMCsport) November 3, 2021
Deprived of Lionel Messi, who had illuminated his last two European outings, PSG found another savior, quite unexpected, in the person of Georginio Wijnaldum. Disappointing so far, the summer rookie took advantage of his positioning higher than usual to score a double, after being silent during his first 14 appearances under the colors of the capital club. Twice he found himself at the conclusion, first in the game on a service from Kylian Mbappé (21st) then on a corner, at the limit of offside, on a deviation from Marquinhos (39th).
Kylian Mbappé’s failed face-to-face meetings cost the Parisians dearly (45 + 2, 52nd, 64th), who still suffered, left spaces and failed to show a conquering face. They nevertheless remain in a favorable position with a view to qualifying for the round of 16, despite the loss of group A leader status. to his victory against Club Brugge (4-1).