PSG 4-0 Atalanta: Reigning European Champions start new campaign with a bang! | OneFootball

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Atalanta 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Dembélé and Doué absent through respective injuries.

The reigning Champions League winners thrashed their Italian opponents despite not having two of their most impactful players.

Goals from Marquinhos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos ensured PSG top spot in the Champions League table.

Ivan Juric has a lot to ponder before Atalanta plays Club Brugge in a couple of weeks. PSG, on the other hand, will take on Barcelona.

As it happened

PSG faced Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday without two of their most influential players.

During France’s 2-0 victory over Ukraine, Ousmane Dembélé was forced off in the first half after straining his hamstring. Désiré Doué was also substituted before half-time against Ukraine after sustaining a calf injury.

Marquinhos fired the European champions into a 1-0 lead within three minutes. Fabian Ruiz managed to stay onside on the left side of the penalty area, subsequently playing in the Brazilian defender, who converted from close range.

Nuno Mendes could have doubled the hosts’ advantage minutes later, but dragged his shot narrowly wide of the woodwork.

PSG were running riot in the early stages of the game, and it eventually paid off when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia extended their lead. The Georgian winger received the ball on the right flank from Achraf Hakimi carried the ball from the right flank

Things could have gone from bad to worse for Ivan Juric’s Atalanta when PSG were awarded a penalty. Yunus Musah brought down Marquinhos in the penalty area, but a dreadful penalty from Bradley Barcola kept the scoreline at 2-0.

Five minutes into the second half, Mendes showed his strength and agility by carving through the Atalanta defence to put the game to bed.

The Portuguese full-back received the ball from Barcola on the left-hand side of the penalty area, cutting in and shifting his body to shoot with his left foot, slotting the ball past Marco Carnesecchi.

Atalanta were clearly struggling against their French opponents, with Luis Enrique’s side showcasing a dominant display, proving why they are European champions.

Gonçalo Ramos put the final nail in Atalanta’s coffin as the substitute’s chip over the goalkeeper stretched PSG’s advantage to 4-0.

The lineups

PSG: Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Mayulu, Barcola

ATA: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, de Roon, Musah, Bernasconi; Pasalic; De Ketelaere, Maldini