PARIS St. Germain (PSG) reached its first ever UEFA Champions League (UCL) final with a convincing 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday, finally delivering the reward of the biggest game in European football for their Qatari backers.

Goals from Marquinhos and Angel Di Maria put PSG 2-0 up at the interval and Juan Bernat added the third in the 56th minute for what was a comfortable victory at Estadio da Luz.

Neymar didn’t score but he was far and away the best player on the field.

Neymar drew the foul that set up Di Maria’s perfect free kick onto Marquinhos’ head to send the Parisians on their way after just 12 minutes in Lisbon, where Europe’s elite eight teams assembled to finish out this coronavirus-cursed Champions League season following a five-month hiatus.

Neymar also helped set up his team’s second goal. After a giveaway by Leipzig deep in its own end, a jaw-dropping flick by the Brazilian made it easy for Di Maria to double PSG’s lead just before halftime.

The French club, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their founding in 1970, will meet the winner of the other semi between Bayern Munich and Olympique Lyonnais after ending what some felt was a mental block in the knockout stages.

PSG has gone out in the last 16 for the past three years, but they proved a step too far for Leipzig, who were playing in the regional leagues just 11 years ago.

The Germans, financed by the Red Bull energy drink company, have outperformed all expectations by reaching the last four, knocking out Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid en route.

“We showed quality and determination. A good mix. We deserved to win,” said Tuchel, who had faced a heavy expectation to deliver in Europe this season.

“I felt the pressure, it was not easy. I have players who are used to playing with this pressure, who like this pressure and these decisive matches.”

With French World Cup winning forward Kylian Mbappe back in the starting line-up after fully recovering from his ankle injury, Tuchel was able to field his preferred attacking trident with Brazilian Neymar and Di Maria.

Right from the outset, PSG looked a threat to the Leipzig defence with Neymar clipping the post after he was slipped in by Mbappe in the sixth minute.

Seven minutes later though, PSG had the lead — Neymar and Di Maria lined up to take a free kick on the left and it was the Argentine who floated in a lovely cross which was nodded home by Marquinhos.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United winger Di Maria was in fine form, constantly probing, while Neymar created from deep and Mbappe pushed on to the last defender looking to use his pace.

(SD-Agencies)