On a night when all eyes Neymar and Kylian Mbappe against RB Leipzig but Di Maria was the Angel who would step up to lift his team into the Champions League final for the first time.
The Parisian club were outright favorites, but clearly, RB Leipzig was a potential banana skin fixture, as they were cautious of avoiding an upset against the newcomers, with just one game left to get to the final.
Monaco was the French club side to reach the champions league final in 2004, with the last time PSG got to the semifinal dating back to 1995, Kylian Mbappe had not even been born, and RB Leipzig had not even existed, this was the easiest the most straight forward run for PSG in the European competition.
RB Leipzig retained its formation against PSG with only one change with Nordi Mukiele in place of Marcel Halstenerg, PSG dropped Icardi to accommodate Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria in their starting lineup for the first time since French Cup final, while Leandro Peredes was swapped for Idrissa Gueye.
It didn’t take long for PSG to register their intent as they took the lead after just 13 minutes of play with Brazilain defender Marquinhos heading in a Di Maria freekick, as they equaled Real Madrid’s record of scoring in every one of their 34 matches in the Champions League.
However, with Leipzig desperate to get back on level terms, they became vulnerable as PSG extended their lead after they were pressed while trying to play out from the back and played a loose ball to Neymar who laid off for Di Maria to finish off.
Leipzig missed their 34 goal striker who had moved on to Chelsea but their night was about to get worse as Nordi Mukiele as he made a mess of clearance as Bernet finished off another Di Maria cross to take the game out of reach for the German side.
Post Match reviews by both managers.
PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel: “We stayed faithful to our style of play. When possible, we looked to control the half-spaces and control their counterattacks. And we used the acceleration of Ángel [Di María], Kylian [Mbappé] and Neymar with the ball between the lines.
“We didn’t make big tactical changes. Yes, we adapt to all our opponents, but not too much. We have to show our strength, and the players again showed their hunger to win, work together and suffer.
“Football is for the fans. We do all this together. We can really feel that they’re with us and that they have confidence in us. I really hope they can feel that this team is a real team.”
While Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann: “We played a good season, we made it to the semifinals in the Champions League which is a great achievement. We’re proud of that. We’re frustrated, of course, but we will gather new power ahead of next season. Our opponent today was stronger than us. It wasn’t easy to play them. We started OK but conceded the first goal from a set-piece which made things difficult.
“We won’t be the first team not to stop Neymar, and we won’t be the last. As a coach, you think about the next challenges. There’s a lot of positive things we take with us. The attitude of my players was great. We showed character on the pitch, but you have to accept when the opponent is stronger.
“We want to be back and experience the same again in the Champions League next season. Now it’s time for vacations for my players before coming together as a team and getting ready for next season.”
The running Angel
The Argentine who was back in the team scored and assisted two goals, his first since 2013 when he was still at Real Madrid, he could have gotten a hat trick of assist if Mbappe had scored from his pin perfect cross when after the game has been won.
The French club will face either Bayern Munich or French rival Lyon in the Champions League final on Sunday in Lisbon as they hope to win their first UEFA Champions League trophy.
