German outfit RB Leipzig is set to welcome French champions Paris Saint-Germain to the Red Bull Arena on Wednesday with both sides desperate to win after faltering against Manchester United in the Champions League.
On matchday two, Man Utd at Old Trafford ruthlessly demolished Julian Nagelsmann ‘s side, losing 5-0 after a rudderless display which saw substitute Marcus Rashford scored a second-half hat-trick. That performance was followed by a narrow defeat in the league to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Meanwhile Thomas Tuchel ‘s side also suffered a loss to Man Utd himself, but in a much more marginal way. Rashford once again proving himself decisive with his late winner securing a 2-1 victory at Le Parc des Princes. His side unlike their German opponents, are in a good run of form at the moment.
Nagelsmann will be without Marcel Halstenberg (muscular), Fabrice Hartmann (knee), Lucas Klostermann (knee), and Konrad Laimer (ankle) for the match. In the loss to Gladbach on Saturday, Nagelsmann rested star performer Emil Forsberg, so the Swede is almost a guaranteed starter on Wednesday. Lazar Samardzic, who made his debut against Gladbach, may make room for former PSG star Christopher Nkunku. Dani Olmo will also be in charge of delivering creativity for the final third.
In midfield, meanwhile, in the absence of Konrad Laimer, Kevin Kampl is most likely to fill the holding spot. Therefore, in the second press line which is Leipzig’s strongest asset, Marcel Sabitzer is expected to partner Kampl.
For PSG, injury situation has dampened their strong start for the season. Along with Mauro Icardi (knee), Leandro Paredes (knock), Marco Verratti (bicep), Julian Draxler (hamstring), Neymar (hamstring), Juan Bernat (cruciate ligament rupture), and Alexandre Letellier (coronavirus), Tuchel will be without few other fringe players for the journey to Leipzig.
Likes of Moise Kean, Angel Di Maria, and Pablo Sarabia are expected to lead the PSG frontline in the absence of star attackers. In defense, Marquinhos could return to the side after being rested in win over Nantes. Alongside Presnel Kimpembe, the Brazilian should feature at the center of the four-man backline of PSG, with Alessandro Florenzi expected to get the nod ahead of Colin Dagba and Thilo Kehrer at the right back.
For the second time, RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain will play in the UCL, with this game coming just 78 days after the Champions League semi-finals last season. RB Leipzig won just one of their previous five games against French rivals, winning three games after they defeated AS Monaco 4-1 in the group stage of 2017/18.
PSG Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Navas; Florenzi, Marquinhos, Kimpembe, Kurzawa; Herrera, Gueye, Paredes; Sarabia, Kean, Di Maria
RB Leipzig Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Gulacsi; Henrichs, Konate, Upamecano, Angelino; Kampl; Sabitzer, Olmo, Nkunku; Poulsen, Forsberg
