Lisbon (AFP)
Will Kylian Mbappé be the savior of Paris SG? The French striker, injured in an ankle less than three weeks ago, came into play after 60 minutes in an attempt to reverse the score, while PSG were led by Atalanta Bergamo (1-0) in the quarter Champions League final.
Coach Thomas Tuchel had indicated just before the meeting at the microphone of RMC Sport that the world champion was only able to play "more or less thirty minutes". The score forced the German to implement his plan to the letter by throwing the Frenchman, who replaced Pablo Sarabia.
PSG would indeed have needed the speed of "Kyky" from the first period to counter a convincing Atalanta team, like Mario Pasalic, who disgusted Parisian goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a curled shot. in the 27th minute, after a blunt defensive intervention from Presnel Kimpembe.
Atalanta had even obtained several chances before, coming up against an excellent Navas.
On the Parisian side, Neymar has multiplied but has shown great clumsiness.
In particular, he incomprehensibly missed a very open face-to-face with opposing goalkeeper Marco Sportiello from the start of the match (3rd), then a second a little more off-center just before the break (42nd). For the rest, PSG was far from justifying its status as the favorite of the meeting, against the surprise team this season disrupted by the coronavirus.
For this first quarter-final of the "Final 8", the final phase of the competition played in a shortened format, behind closed doors and under high health surveillance, the Parisians dream of a first qualification for the semi-finals for 25 years in this race. event, on the club's 50th anniversary.
© 2020 AFP