Leipzig vs Paris Champions League semi-final preview: where to watch, team news

Leipzig face Paris at 21:00 CET on Tuesday 18 August in the first of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League semi-finals in Lisbon.

Where to watch the game on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

Meet the teams

Leipzig
UEFA ranking: 32
This season: P9 W6 D2 L1 F17 A9
How they got here: Group G winners, 4-0 Tottenham (R16), 2-1 Atlético (QF)
Last five games: WWLDW
Top scorer: Timo Werner, Marcel Sabitzer (4)
Last season: Europa League group stage
European Cup best: semi-finals (2019/20)

Paris
UEFA ranking: 7
This season: P9 W7 D1 L1 F22 A5
How they got here: Group A winners, 3-2 Dortmund (R16), 2-1 Atalanta (QF)
Last five games: WDWWW
Top scorer: Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappé (5)
Last season: round of 16
European Cup best: semi-finals (1994/95)

Possible line-ups

Leipzig: Gulácsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg; Laimer, Kampl, Sabitzer, Angeliño; Olmo, Poulsen, Nkunku
Out: Konaté (hip)

Paris: Rico; Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Paredes, Marquinhos, Herrera; Di María, Mbappé, Neymar
Out: Navas (thigh)
Doubtful: Gueye (muscular), Verratti (calf), Kurzawa (thigh)

Reporters' views

James Thorogood, Leipzig reporter: Leipzig’s semi-final tie brings with it a host of subplots from Tuchel’s reunion with Nagelsmann to Nkunku facing the club he left in the summer. The big question is whether Leipzig can do in their second Champions League campaign what Paris have failed to in 12 previous attempts and reach the final? Only in the wildest dreams of the most ardent fans would that have been considered possible for Leipzig at the start of the season.

Chris Burke, Paris reporter: A long-awaited first European title is so close now that Paris can practically sniff it. All the talk after their late turnaround against Atalanta focused on belief and squad unity, Thomas Tuchel's side revealing an all-for-one, musketeer mentality. The French champions will feel destiny is on their side as they face a team few expected to reach this stage, particularly with Ángel Di María back from suspension and Kylian Mbappé now a potential starter. Paris's "dream bigger" motto never felt more appropriate.

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann, Leipzig coach: "We didn't really play the kind of football we wanted to after the restart. The players really have the will to win, we are hungry and I can see that in their faces. We want to take the next step and are ready. You can't foresee what Neymar and Mbappé could do, they're top players. We will need to defend them as a team. It'll be difficult but we need to make them work and put them under pressure. Football is interesting when both sides like to attack."

Thomas Tuchel, Paris coach: "We are here because we deserve it. We played a great season and worked so hard, took every match seriously. We won't talk about the past – only the present. We're hungry for success, to succeed. We want to make the hard work we have put in pay off. [Leipzig] press high, they are courageous, a young, fast team – like Atalanta were. We have our style, they have theirs."

Latest results

Leipzig
Form: WWLDW (all competitions, most recent first)
Where they finished: 3rd in Bundesliga

Paris
Form: WDWWW
Where they finished: Ligue 1 champions, French Cup winners, French League Cup winners

What's next?

The winners of this game will take on the winners of the other semi-final (Lyon vs Bayern) in the final, which is taking place at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on Sunday 23 August. The showpiece will kick off at 21:00 CET.

Rule changes

From the quarter-finals, all matches are being played as one-off ties at two stadiums in Lisbon, Portugal; this game is being held at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

Teams are able to make five substitutions but can only make these changes at three points in the game. These three occasions do not include changes at half-time, between the end of normal playing time and extra time, and at half-time during extra time. One additional substitution is allowed during extra time.

There are also more players to choose from: a total of 23 players is allowed on the match sheet instead of 18, something usually only permitted for the final.