An express “remount” as a birthday present and the hope of a historic European coronation in three matches.
Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG), winner in the snatch 2-1 at Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday in Lisbon, qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League, on its fiftieth anniversary. *
The @PSG_inside is in ????????????????-???????????????????????? of @ChampionsLeague ! ????
❤️ #WeAreParis ????#ATAPSG pic.twitter.com/OTP47P49LX
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 12, 2020
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The Parisian burst
On the brink of the abyss since the opening of the score of Mario Pasalic (27th) and yet another European disillusion, the Parisian burst came from a vice-captain who never gives up until the “95th minute” and an always exemplary replacement.
So, Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting saved the 50th birthday party, as much as the title hopes in the most prestigious of European competitions.
The hero of the evening, the unique, the charismatic, the legendary ???????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????????????-???????????????????????? ???? pic.twitter.com/ltvDG3iw3V
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 12, 2020
“You had to believe in it until the end, that’s what we did. We missed a few opportunities to unblock this match but football goes through there, by motivation, by faith “, savored“ Marqui ”on RMC Sport.
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Bergamo gives a hard time
Absent from the last four of the C1 since 1995, Paris did not miss a golden opportunity to repeat the best course in its history, 50 years to the day after the official founding of PSG on August 12, 1970.
And even allowed himself to finally inflict on an opponent his own “remount”, a word he has not stopped repeating since the failure in Barcelona in 2017. “Honestly, we need that to change the mentality ”, underlined President Nasser Al-Khelaïfi.
Something is blocking us a bit but today I promise you the players all want to give 200% more.
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The joy of our Parisians after this crazy meeting ????
❤️???? #WeAreParis pic.twitter.com/cUKDQlNCKP
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 12, 2020
Considered as the best possible draw before the matchBergamo, however, almost revealed the shortcomings of the Thomas Tuchel era since his arrival on the bench in 2018. Thanks to the iron mind of his players, the Petit Poucet of the competition has become the symbol of its success, namely to take PSG to the next level.
Neymar at the heart of the match
However, PSG has long been unable, as much by clumsiness as by lack of rhythm, to get rid of the Lombard club while Neymar tried everything : the special “mohican” cup for the big event, the gris-gris of great evenings, the acceleration of major matches… Without success!
After having broken the curse of injury, the curse of the eighths, and waited five months after the incredible paralysis of competitions caused by the coronavirus, everything was nevertheless united so that the Brazilian N.10 could shine.
But after his huge missed opportunity at the start of the match, all the Parisian clan in the stands took the lead with both hands, incredulous. As if the turning point of the match had already taken place in the 3rd minute of play.
After initiating the action himself by relying on Icardi with a subtle deflection, “Ney” opened his way to the goal on his own by perforating the defense with a full-axis supersonic run. But once alone against the goalkeeper, he opened his foot too wide when the goal seemed certain …
Aligned in an offensive trident where he often looked like a false N.9, the Brazilian has been at the heart of all the offensives. But unable to be decisive in the zone of truth, as on this one-two perfectly played on the left side that he was unable to achieve once again after a long race (19th).
Concentrated and applied, Atalanta also rested on the paw of her N.10, “Papu” Gomez, to make a difference. On his center in the back of the defense, the right piston Hateboer saw his dangerous head being pushed back in extremis by Keylor Navas, very vigilant (11th).
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A winning entry for Mbappé
But on a billiards stroke, Bergamo ended up opening the scoring. In the snatch, Duvan Zapata managed to counter a ball poorly cleared by Kimpembe near the surface. Mario Pasalic, alone and on the lookout, did not miss the opportunity to deceive Navas with an unstoppable wound from the left (1-0, 27th). Once again Neymar could have brought his team back to equality. But he missed a huge gift (42nd).
Despite the sound and raucous encouragement of Keylor Navas, perceptible on the other side of the field, the Parisians let themselves be lulled by the false rhythm of the Italians, which multiplied the faults.
The hour of play precipitated the entry into play of Mbappé. Directly placed on the left wing, his pep brought dynamism and scoring chances like this raid that he was unable to conclude (74th, 80th).
“His entry gave an energy to PSG who was losing the match, it was fundamental because of what he brought” can only deplore Gian Piero Gasperini the coach of Atalanta Bergamo, at the end of the meeting.
Navas’ injury, however, was the trigger for a completely crazy scenario : first with the equalizing goal from Marquinhos on a center-shot from Neymar (1-1, 90th), then on the perfect pass from Mbappé for Choupo-Moting (2-1, 90 ″ 3), just after his entry at stake. Two already legendary goals.
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Source: © 2020 AFP
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