Stars align in PSG’s historic push

• PSG reached their first European Cup/Champions League final after their 110th game in the competition -- the most played by a side before reaching their first final, overtaking Arsenal's record of 90 between 1971-2006.

• No side has ever scored in more consecutive matches in major UEFA competition than PSG's current run of 34, level with Real Madrid between 2011-2014 in the Champions League.

An inspired performance from Neymar, a display of power from a state-run club, Paris Saint-Germain brought all their wealth to bear in a commanding 3-0 win over RB Leipzig, that means Qatar's big sporting project become France's first Champions League finalists since 2004.

Successive failures in the Champions League last 16 made big spending PSG a laughing stock but after two years in charge coach Thomas Tuchel has found the right balance and turned the tide. PSG were barely bothered in a 3-0 thrashing of Leipzig as they reached the final in style on Tuesday.

While Neymar and Angel Di Maria dazzled up front with the recovering Kylian Mbappe always a potential danger, a steely midfield and a solid defence made sure there would be no surprises.

Kylian Mbappe said he was feeling similar vibes as during France's World Cup winning campaign in 2018 after reached the Champions League final.

"I feel the same vibes because we managed to create a group where everyone knows their importance and everyone does their job," the France striker told a news conference. "We do a lot of activities outside the pitch, maybe it's too much for some but that's how you win titles. It's easier to make efforts and sacrifices for your teammates if they are your friends."

Yet while Neymar, who hit the post twice in the first half, including from an audacious free-kick wide out on the right as everyone waited for a cross, and Mbappe, the two superstars and the two most expensive players of all time, dominate the headlines, there were standout performances all through PSG's team on Tuesday. In particular, Di Maria.

The Argentine was once the major superstar at PSG before being eclipsed by his attacking colleagues. Against Leipzig, on his return from suspension, it was he who set up two goals either side of scoring himself.

"It is going to be difficult to sleep tonight with the final in mind," said Di Maria.

Nothing demonstrates the determination of PSG's Qatari owners to conquer Europe better than their front three, who cost a combined 465 million euros.

"Defensively, they were solid, everybody made efforts," former PSG coach Luis Fernandez told French sports daily L'Equipe on Wednesday. "I saw the Liverpool of Juergen Klopp with Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino pressing up front."

Thomas Tuchel has heaped praises on his players and said that the French team thoroughly deserved the win against their German opponents.

"We showed a lot of character, determination and hunger to win. We had it all: mental strength, the desire to defend, and to suffer together. It was a great effort from the whole team. It was a great team effort and we deserved to win," Tuchel was quoted as saying on the official website of PSG.

RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann was left ruing his side's mistakes and missed chances after bowing out of the Champions League. Leipzig, founded in 2009, reached the last four for the first time in the Red Bull-backed club's brief history in his first season in charge.

"In the end the opponent was simply better than us, we have to accept that. We were in the semi-finals, we can be proud of that," Nagelsmann added.