Champions League team news and preview: Atalanta vs PSG
We're at the long-awaited quarter-final stage of the Champions League with the format changing this season due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which has seen the usual two-legged setup scrapped. Both Atalanta and PSG secured their spot at this stage in early March, but the subsequent delay to football around the world means five months have passed since they booked their place here.
For Champions League debutants Atalanta, Wednesday's tie provides them the opportunity to test their credentials against one of Europe's powerhouse sides. For PSG, they'll hope their hefty investment will reward them with a first major European honour since their 1996 Cup Winners' Cup success. Perhaps not the glamour tie of Barcelona vs Bayern Munich, Atalanta's clash with PSG promises to be a coming together between two of Europe's most exciting sides in a tantalising clash to kick off the quarter-finals.
When is kick off?
Wednesday 12th August, 20:00 GMT
Where is this match?
Estadio da Luz, Lisbon
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1
How they qualified?
Atalanta put eight goals past Valencia across their two legs, but, in traditional Atalanta fashion, also conceded four. The Serie A side are one of the most exciting teams in Europe and having inched into the knockout stages of the Champions League, they'll hope to secure a semi-final spot against a PSG side that reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 at the expense of Borussia Dortmund.
Billed as one of the ties of the round, PSG ultimately got the better of the Bundesliga side as a 2-0 win on home turf saw them earn a 3-2 aggregate win. They lost to Manchester City at this stage four years ago, and, in this one-off Champions League tie, it's vital they don't underestimate Atalanta in Lisbon.
Team News
Atalanta's key absences come at either end of the pitch. Pierluigi Gollini is ruled out for the Italian side, after the 25-year-old limped off after just four minutes in their final match of the Serie A season. Up front, Josip Ilicic will also sit out this tie, though since Serie A duties resumed in June, the Slovenian has been far from his best for Atalanta.
For PSG, head coach Thomas Tuchel was sweating on the fitness of star forward Kylian Mbappe after he sustained an ankle injury in their 1-0 Coupe de France win over Saint-Etienne last month. However, Tuchel has said that Mbappe is fit enough to feature, but that he can't play the full 90 minutes, so he is unlikely to start here. Still, he is a handy option off the bench. Assist machine Angel Di Maria is suspended for the French giants following his booking in the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, while left-back Layvin Kurzawa and midfieder Marco Verratti are ruled out. Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier have since departed the French side after their respective contracts expired.
Predicted XIs
Atalanta (3421): Sportiello; Palomino, Toloi, Djimsiti; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens; Gomez, Malinovskiy; Zapata
PSG (433): Navas; Kehrer, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat; Gueye, Marquinhos, Herrera; Sarabia, Icardi, Neymar
Key Battle - Alejandro Gomez vs Neymar
Alejandro Gomez may have been unable to transfer his unbelievable Serie A form to the Champions League, but the pint-sized creator is a force to be reckoned with when he is on song. One goal and two assists have come from averages of 2.1 shots and 1.8 key passes per 90 in the Champions League this season, however, if granted the space, the Argentine is more than capable of hurting any opponent.
Conversely, even when space is at a premium, Neymar is a player more than capable to wiggling his way out of tight positions to forge chances. Only Lionel Messi (7.7) is completing more dribbles per game than the Brazilian (5) in the Champions League this season, while a WhoScored rating of 8.24 is the third best in the competition. Neymar has made just four Champions League appearances this season, yet with Di Maria out and Mbappe a doubt, there is more pressure on the 28-year-old to fire PSG to the semi-finals.
Prediction - Atalanta 1-2 PSG
