PSG vs RB Leipzig: 5 players to watch out for | UEFA Champions League 2021-22

PSG will resume their UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign with a home game against RB Leipzig on Tuesday. This will be the third consecutive season in which the two clubs will cross paths.

Both teams play an attacking game, which makes their upcoming encounter an interesting watch.

PSG have got their campaign off to a great start and are at the top of the Group A standings. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig find themselves in fourth position, having lost both of their games so far.

With the addition of Lionel Messi, the all-time top scorer in the group stage fixtures, PSG will be fancying their chances of an easy win. However, RB Leipzig won't go down without a fight.

Both sides have highly capable players in their ranks who will need to step up in this game.

On that note, we take a look at the five players to watch out for as PSG lock horns with RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

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#5 Idrissa Gueye | PSG

Idrissa Gueye has been a solid midfielder for PSG

Idrissa Gueye is the dominant force in the middle of the park for PSG. The former Everton midfielder has been a regular starter for the club, with his ball-winning skills being an effective shield against opposing attackers.

Gueye has made more successful tackles (55.6%) than any other player for PSG this season. We can expect a high-octane performance from him against RB Leipzig, who tend to create more chances through the middle rather than the flanks.

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#4 Emil Forsberg | RB Leipzig

Emil Forsberg has been the creative force for RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig have not had a great start to the 2021-22 season. They suffered three losses in their first four Bundesliga games of the season. However, they have made a good recovery since and are unbeaten in their last four league games.

Unfortunately, their poor run of form has continued in the Champions League as they have suffered two straight defeats.

Emil Forsberg has registered three goals and one assist in 11 appearances across all competitions to help RB Leipzig return to winning ways. He will be one of the players who will provide some spark in the final third.

Forsberg is a smart player who possesses the ability to create chances out of thin air. If things go his way, he might be able to pick up another assist this season.

#3 Kylian Mbappe | PSG

Kylian Mbappe is PSG's top goalscorer this season

PSG's prized possession, Kylian Mbappe, has enjoyed a great start to the 2021-22 campaign. He is the leading goalscorer (5) and assists provider (6) for Mauricio Pochettino's side this season. His goalscoring instincts and ability to deliver in clutch moments make him one of the best players in the world.

The Frenchman has five goals to his name in Ligue 1. He has also picked up four assists in the league, with no other PSG player having more than five goal involvements.

Mbappe is the only player to have played every single minute of football for the Parisians this season. He will be one of the first players on the team sheet for Tuesday's game.

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#2 Christopher Nkunku | RB Leipzig

Christopher Nkunku scored a hat-trick against Manchester City last month

Christopher Nkunku will be in action against his former club PSG on Tuesday. The Frenchman has been in great form. His performances have provided a glimmer of hope for RB Leipzig fans in what has been a disappointing start to their campaign.

Nkunku has scored four goals in the Bundesliga and another four in the Champions League. The 23-year-old registered himself in the history books when he became the first player in RB Leipzig's history to score a hat-trick in the UCL. That performance came against Manchester City.

His heroics weren't enough for RB Leipzig to save face as the reigning Premier League champions scored six times in that game. Nevertheless, he could be a key player for his side against PSG.

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#1 Lionel Messi | PSG

Lionel Messi's only goal for PSG has come in the Champions League

We are all aware of Lionel Messi's ability to turn the outcome of a game on its head. While we are yet to see his best performance in PSG colors, the good news is that the Argentine's only goal for the club came in the Champions League.

PSG will be without some key players in Tuesday's game, with Angel Di Maria suspended and Neymar ruled out with injury. This gives Messi the perfect opportunity to step up and deliver a match-winning performance.

Despite not being as prolific in front of goal, he has been in good touch and was on the scoresheet in the international break with Argentina. So it is not too much to expect a good performance from him against RB Leipzig.