Special envoy to Lisbon
Crazy, crazy, crazy! Led until the 90th minute, the PSG players finally dismissed Atalanta on Wednesday, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League (2-1). The return of Kylian Mbappé will have been decisive. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's also. It was the Cameroonian who scored the second Parisian goal. The capital club will face Leipzig or Atlético on August 18, still in Lisbon, in the semi-finals.
Overwhelming
Lack of pace, physique or aggressiveness? The Parisians were being eaten more and more by the Italians over the minutes in this first period. Aligned with 4-3-3 in attack and 4-4-2 in defense, they had the greatest difficulties in the air and to get out of pressing. Paris, a team against. Except that in this game, you have to be efficient. And Neymar, main and almost only Parisian danger, lacked. From the start, with an incredible failure (3rd), just after a great Bergamo opportunity, and again just before the break (42nd). We also saw him arming from afar (28th)… just after Atalanta opened the scoring, with a ball blocked from Zapata for Pasalic (1-0, 27th). Navas, brilliant on a header from Hateboer (11th) following an excellent ball from the no less excellent Gomez, could not do anything. Midfielder exceeded, Sarabia and Icardi non-existent, chilly side… Not much was going in the right direction (1-0 MT).
And it did not get better on the restart, with fears in front of the goal of Navas (58th) while Mbappé was about to come into play (60th). An entry that coincided with a Parisian awakening. The Atalanta was finally pulling back. And the chances started to rain on Sportiello's goal. Mbappé (73rd, 80th), Neymar (76th), Choupo-Moting (86th)… In the meantime, Navas had given way, injured (79th). Bad luck for a PSG which seemed destined for regrets. Or not. Opening of Choupo-Moting, Neymar in the center, Marquinhos who tears off, equalization (1-1, 90th). The rage of a whole group. And it was not over yet. KO standing, Atalanta gave in on a candy from Neymar for Mbappé, with… “Choupo” at the finish (1-2, 90 + 3). Another scare, with Zapata trailing in the box (90 + 5), and it was deliverance (1-2 final score).
Read also
- Quarter-final results