PSG take on the visitors Atalanta in the round 1 match of UEFA Champions League group stage. The match will be played on Wednesday, September 17th at Parc des Princes, Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain are currently at their peak. Yes, there was a major blemish in the form of a 0-3 defeat to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final. But before that, having once again swept all domestic trophies, the French side crushed Inter Milan with five goals in the final and finally won the UEFA Champions League — something they had been chasing for a long time. The man behind that success, Luis Enrique, broke his collarbone in a cycling accident last weekend, forcing him into surgery instead of planning tactics. Key players have also picked up injuries, notably Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé, prompting a public spat between the club and local authorities. Even so, Illia Zabarnyi and his teammates will face a tough opponent with gaps in the squad. They also had to fight hard in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur, trailing for most of the match before winning the trophy thanks to a penalty shootout heroics from Lucas Chevalier, who has replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma as the starting goalkeeper. Despite the injury crisis, their attacking trio remains lethal, and their bench depth could be decisive in this fixture. If they maintain their intensity, PSG are still strong contenders to dominate this tie.
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Atalanta are entering a new chapter in their history. The Bergamaschi have achieved a lot in recent years largely thanks to Gian Piero Gasperini. However, he announced well in advance that he would leave in the summer, despite leading the team to the UEFA Champions League knockout stage and finishing 3rd in Serie A. The off-season saw not only his departure but also the exits of several key players, including Mateo Retegui, although the club once again remained active in the transfer market. The biggest surprise was their decision to appoint Ivan Jurić as head coach — an experienced and respected specialist, though he struggled last season with AS Roma and later failed to revive Southampton. In his new role, the Croatian started with two 1-1 draws, against Pisa at home and Parma away, followed by a scrappy performance versus Lecce. Their attack looks disjointed so far, with new signings yet to adapt, while the defense has been shaky under pressure. Unless they find balance quickly, competing at this level will be difficult.
In the “pandemic” year 2020, they met in the quarterfinals in Lisbon. That match on neutral ground was won by the French side. The French side must take maximum points at home. The visitors do not look like a serious threat. We believe Luis Enrique’s men will win with a -1 handicap.
Prediction for the match: PSG to win with -1.0 handicap.
