RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain will both be attempting to reach the Champions League final for the first time in their respective histories when they lock horns in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.
PSG's 2-1 victory over Atalanta BC saw them book their spot in the final four, while Leipzig overcame Atletico Madrid 24 hours later to ensure that they would be present in the semi-finals.
Match preview
Having only been founded in 2009, it is incredible that Leipzig, who were not a Bundesliga side until 2016, have managed to reach the semi-finals of this season's Champions League.
There has been nothing flukey about the German outfit's progression to this stage, though, having excellently dispatched Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the last-16 stage of the competition, before recording a 2-1 victory over Atletico in the last eight on August 13.
It did appear that the quarter-final against Diego Simeone's side would be heading for extra-time, but Tyler Adams came off the bench to score a late winner for Leipzig, who are competing in just their second ever Champions League season.
The Red Bulls have won eight of their last 15 Champions League games, while they have been victorious in seven of their eight previous knockout European ties, which is a record that might well stand them in good stead as they prepare to take on the French champions.
Julian Nagelsmann's side only lost four of their 34 Bundesliga games during the 2019-20 campaign, meanwhile, claiming third behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, and they will be fired-up to set up a final appearance against either Bayern or Lyon on August 23.
PSG, meanwhile, are in the semi-finals of the European Cup for just the second time in their history; they previously reached this stage in 1995 but lost 3-0 to Italian giants AC Milan on aggregate.
Lyon's presence in the final four means that France have two teams in the semi-finals of the European Cup for the first time, and it would be some story if the two Ligue 1 outfits were to meet in next weekend's final.
PSG have struggled to make it past the quarter-final stage of the Champions League in recent years, while they were incredibly dumped out in the last-16 stage of last season's competition by Manchester United, losing on away goals following a 3-1 home defeat to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.
Borussia Dortmund were dispatched in this season's round of 16 before a 2-1 victory over Atalanta BC in the quarter-finals, with Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting both scoring in the latter stages after Mario Pasalic had sent the Serie A outfit into a first-half lead in Lisbon.
Les Parisiens are, without question, the dominant force in French football, but it would be fair to say that this is the competition that they really want to win, particularly considering the money that the owners have invested.
RB Leipzig Champions League form: WDDWWW
RB Leipzig form (all competitions): WDLWDW
Paris Saint-Germain Champions League form: WDWLWW
Paris Saint-Germain form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Team News
Timo Werner was such a big player for Leipzig during the 2019-20 campaign, but the Germany international chose not to finish the season with the Bundesliga outfit as he agreed an early move to Chelsea.
Leipzig's squad is in excellent shape at the moment, though, with Ibrahima Konate, who underwent hip surgery last month, their only confirmed absentee heading into the last-four contest.
It would not be a surprise to see Nagelsmann select the same XI that started against Atletico, with Dani Olmo again operating in the position just behind Yussuf Poulsen.
Patrik Schick, Adams and Emil Forsberg are among those who could come into their manager's thinking for a starting role, although it is likely to be a case of same again for the German outfit.
PSG, meanwhile, are set to be without both key midfielder Marco Verratti and number one goalkeeper Keylor Navas for the last-four encounter.
Verratti missed out against Atalanta with a calf problem and is still struggling, while Navas had to be replaced in the latter stages of the clash with the Italian side, having picked up a thigh issue, meaning that Sergio Rico is almost certain to feature between the sticks.
Angel Di Maria was suspended against Atalanta but will return to the XI here; Layvin Kurzawa remains on the sidelines for Thomas Tuchel's side with a thigh injury, though.
Kylian Mbappe made his return from an ankle injury off the bench in the quarter-finals and should start on Tuesday night, while Leandro Paredes could get the nod over Ander Herrera and Idrissa Gueye in midfield.
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg, Angelino; Laimer, Kampl; Sabitzer, Olmo, Nkunku; Poulsen
Paris Saint-Germain possible starting lineup:
Rico; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Di Maria, Paredes, Marquinhos, Neymar; Mbappe, Icardi
We say: RB Leipzig 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Leipzig deserve a lot of respect for reaching this stage of the competition, but it is difficult to look past PSG in this match. The French champions should have some key players back despite potentially missing Verratti and Navas, and we fancy Tuchel's side to book their spot in the final with a 2-0 success.
Top betting tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting that both teams will score (BTTS - yes) in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.BTTS Yes:databody check tags ::
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