Neymar was the key as PSG beat Reims 3-0, breaking a two-match losing streak against the Champagne club to book a place in the last-ever Coupe de la Ligue BKT final, versus OL at the Stade France on Saturday 4 April.
Paris Saint-Germain, the most successful club in Coupe de la Ligue BKT history with eight titles, have a chance to make it nine in the final edition of the competition when they face Olympique Lyonnais in the final in just over two months' time.
Tuchel: 'Winning mentality'
"We played against a very strong team defensively and scored three goals. We put in a lot of effort defensively, we were very disciplined. We didn't give our opponents any chances, we played strong. It was a very serious performance, and the win is fully deserved," said PSG boss Thomas Tuchel - whose side lost at this stage of the competition last season, missing a chance to make it six titles in a row. "We changed a few players and I felt like we were fresh. We could have scored even more at the end. We played with a winning mentality."
Superstar influence
Neymar was the key man in unlocking Stade de Reims' famously watertight backline - and he did it with some superb work from set pieces. First, following a signal from Marquinhos to loft his out-swinging corner form the right, he put the ball on his compatriot's head for the opened (9').
Another Neymar free-kick ended up in the back of the net when Marquinhos failed to connect and Reims captain Alaixys Romao's header forced a catastrophic own-goal from Ghislain Konan (31', o.g.) that made it 2-0 before 17-year-old PSG youth academy graduate Tanguy Kouassi headed home the match-killer form another of the Brazilian's corners.
Guion: 'An amazing adventure'
A stellar performance from the Brazilian superstar that put paid to an impressive turn in the competition from David Guion' Reims side, who beat Montpellier and Strasbourg on the way to the semis.
"Obviously I want to congratulate my players and our whole squad for this run to the semi-finals. It was an amazing adventure; the lads had some great experiences," said Guion, who has honed the Reims defence into one of Europe's stingiest. "Now, we’re pretty disappointed of course, but of course if you're up against PSG, it's a pretty big obstacle between you and the cup. I want to congratulate my players and I also hope that his kind of match will hold us in good stead for the rest of the league season."
