It's an almost timeless moment. The one that separates PSG from the almost certain prospect of a new cruel European disillusionment of one of the most beautiful turnarounds seen in the Champions League in recent seasons. Led 1-0 by Atalanta Bergamo in the 90th minute of their C1 quarter-final, Paris overturned the table in less than three minutes. 149 seconds separate the two goals to be precise. Story of this express miracle.
The equalizer of Marquinhos
Wedged in his pub in Moliets (Landes), where he spends his holidays by the Atlantic, Christophe is desperate. Supporter of PSG, the forty-year-old sees looming a new inglorious elimination for his club. “We miss too many chances, Keylor Navas is injured, the minutes pass… Frankly, I told myself that the curse was going to strike again. I did not believe it anymore. "
Further south, PSG is less resigned to Lisbon. “I didn't have the feeling we weren't going to score. Never, ”said Thomas Tuchel at the RMC microphone after the meeting. The Parisians continue to push in the camp of Italians exhausted and still under pressure since the arrival on the field of Kylian Mbappé on the hour mark. “His entry gave an energy to PSG which was losing the match , this was fundamental because of what he brought ”underlines Atalanta Bergamo coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
The goal, however, does not come from the French world champion. He also came into play a few minutes before, Eric Choupo-Moting is working on the right wing before transplanting in the axis and serving Neymar with a nice opening over the defense. The Brazilian misses his shot, but the ball lands in the feet of his compatriot Marquinhos. The defender converted to midpoint equalizes. The Parisian part of the Luz stadium rejoices. In France, PSG supporters scream their relief at home or in bars.
Positioned to the right of the PSG sidelines, RMC Sport field man Mohamed Bouhafsi sees Thomas Tuchel screaming his joy towards the stands where some of his players, staff and managers are positioned. A few seconds before, the German technician released the pressure by tapping on the cooler where he saw the match, diminished by a sprained left ankle.
"I especially hear Neymar screaming like crazy", describes the journalist. The howl of relief from the PSG star contrasts with the dejection of the Atalanta players. Tired, they return to the central circle to give the engagement. The five-minute stoppage of play has already started. But PSG are still hungry, as evidenced by Marquinhos' bulging eyes shortly after the goal.
The 1-1
From the kickoff of Bergamo, the Parisian players go up to the pressing. One minute and 20 seconds after the start of stoppage time, Choupo-Moting and Neymar accelerate towards the defenders of Atalanta, ten as their midfielder Remo Freuler is tormented by his cramps, which turn the ball to find a solution.
"I felt a team that wanted to avoid extra time and fold the match in stride," explains Mohamed Bouhafsi. A few minutes before the equalizer, the field man of the sports channel saw Thomas Tuchel turn to his deputy, brandishing a finger. "I told my assistants that if we scored a goal, we would score a second then", he explained after the match.
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In front of their television, PSG supporters are slowly recovering from the fervor of the equalizer. “I don't remember what happens between the two goals,” Christophe admits. There, we breathed, the tension was released, everything went down again. "
The decisive goal of Choupo-Moting
On the left of the Parisian defense, Presnel Kimpembe recovers the ball and launches the counter-attack. The conclusion, at the other end of the field a few moments later, has now entered PSG history: Neymar launches Mbappé perfectly in the area which centers back for Choupo-Moting. 2-1. Paris has just achieved an extraordinary end to the match.
“There, we exploded in the bar, says Christophe. It was screaming in all directions, the boss was asking us to calm down because we were going to wake up the people who were sleeping nearby. It was madness. "On the goal of Choupo-Moting, we jumped on the tables at home," said former PSG striker Pascal Nouma, now based in Istanbul.
In Lisbon, some Parisian players go crazy after the second goal. This is the case of Marco Verratti, injured in the right calf and unavailable against Atalanta on Wednesday. The Italian midfielder limps as fast as he can in the stands of the Luz stadium to share his joy with his partners. Lower down on the lawn, PSG screams its joy after this goal which sends it to the semi-final.
🏆 The joy of Verratti and Di Maria on the goal of deliverance. pic.twitter.com/DeSMOaYp43
- RMC Sport (@RMCsport) August 13, 2020“I saw Ander Herrera throw himself to the ground to kiss the lawn, describes Mohamed Bouhafsi. Thomas Tuchel was exulting. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was also overjoyed, I had never seen him like that. “On the ground, Neymar and Mbappé surrender their embrace. In the Italian goal, Atalanta Bergamo goalkeeper Marco Sportiello boxed the ball in spite. Less than three minutes earlier, it was he who was still in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
