Upamecano and Mbappe leading lights in RB Leipzig vs PSG combined XI
The gulf in financial resources during Paris Saint-Germain's quarter-final tie with Atalanta was well documented. It was reported Neymar's annual salary was more than Atalanta's entire wage bill for the year. In truth, there will be a gulf in resources, to some extent, no matter who PSG play. If a team is capable of signing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the same summer, you know you are not on an even playing field. The same will of course be true when PSG take on RB Leipzig in the first Champions League semi-final.
The Bundesliga outfit defied the odds to defeat Atletico Madrid in the last round and now face another uphill task on Tuesday night. Without Timo Werner leading the line, Leipzig will have to be even better if they are to advance to Sunday's Champions League final. Reaching the last four is a remarkable achievement in itself considering Leipzig were only founded 11 years ago. But now they are dreaming of becoming European champions.
PSG have pumped more than a billion dollars into new signings in the nine years that have elapsed since the Qatari takeover and you'd expect the French champions to completely dominate a combined XI with Leipzig. Wrong. While PSG just about edge things, Leipzig are also well represented.
Starting at the back, Leipzig No.1 Peter Gulacsi is first up. With Keylor Navas out injured, the former Liverpool shot-stopper takes the slot by default but still has a solid rating of 6.94. Dayot Upamecano is the top-rated centre-back in this season's Champions League (7.41), with the best tackle success rate in the division (95.5%) and more dribbles completed than any other Leipzig team-mate. He is joined at the back by right-back Lukas Klostermann.
Moving into midfield and Dani Olmo and Marcel Sabitzer flank PSG ace Marquinhos. The former has played a direct hand in four goals in this season's competition, while Sabitzer has scored or assisted seven goals in eight appearances. With Werner no longer at the club, coupled with Angel di Maria back from suspension, it's no surprise to see a PSG front three in the XI.
Neymar, Di Maria and Mbappe are PSG's top three rated players, in that order, in the Champions League this season. No player averages more dribbles per 90 (2+ apps) than Neymar (7.8) in this season's competition, while Di Maria has created the most clear-cut goalscoring chances (8). Meanwhile, despite only starting half of his eight appearances, Mbappe has remarkably played a direct hand in 10 goals - one every 47.7 minutes of playing time.
