The hot phase in the premier class begins. In Lisbon, co-favorites Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta Bergamo make the start. The roles are clearly assigned.
Lisbon (dpa) - The final tournament of the Champions League in Lisbon starts with the first quarter-finals this Wednesday evening (9 p.m. / DAZN).
In the Estádio da Luz, the French champions Paris Saint-Germain will meet Atalanta Bergamo. A German coach is sitting on the PSG bench, while the Bergamo jersey is played by one whom national coach Joachim Löw also looks at.
THE INITIAL SITUATION:
The Parisian star ensemble is a clear favorite - but one with little worries. World champion Kylian Mbappé injured his ankle in the cup final on July 24th and started training this week. A start in the starting XI? Rather unlikely. However, PSG coach Thomas Tuchel can count on a number of players who can make the difference even without the 21-year-old top scorer in French Ligue 1. Above all the Brazilian Neymar.
Atalanta, on the other hand, relies on the carelessness of the outsider. "It's a great honor for a small town like Bergamo," said coach Gian Piero Gasperini of the sports newspaper "L'Équipe". The city, severely affected by the corona pandemic, is looking forward to the game in distant Portugal. "We want to give people a laugh after all this grief," the coach announced.
THE NEARLY NATIONAL PLAYER
Should the national coach watch in the evening, he should also do it because of Robin Gosens. Joachim Löw wanted to invite the full-back for the first time for the international matches against Spain and Italy in March. But then the corona pandemic intervened. The reward for his strong performance in the Bergamo jersey is only likely to have been postponed. Gosens is now in demand all over Europe. The Bundesliga would also appeal to him: his favorite club is Schalke 04.
THE TOURNAMENT
The eight clubs in Lisbon will make their way to the final on August 23rd in quick succession. In the quarter and semi-finals, each pairing is decided in only one knockout game. The winners from Wednesday evening will meet the winner of the game between Bundesliga club RB Leipzig and Atlético Madrid in the semi-finals on August 18 (Thursday, 9 p.m.). For Paris, the tournament format means even more pressure. The capital club, supported by Qatar, has so far only been the loser in the premier class. Tuchel is expected to bring the handle pot to France soon. The only second semi-final in the Champions League after 25 years would be a start.
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