Rome (AFP)

Paris SG may have to do without Kylian Mbappé, but Atalanta Bergamo already knows they will have to do without Josip Ilicic. The absence of the Slovenian on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is a big handicap for the Italian club, which however has other weapons in store.

Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta is often presented in Italy as a "goal machine" and a "goal cooperative". Between Serie A and the Champions League, the Lombard club has indeed scored 118 times this season.

Of this impressive total, Ilicic weighs 20 goals, 15 in the league and five in C1, including a famous quadruple in the round of 16 return to Valencia. The Slovenian therefore did not do everything on his own.

But he is the most talented player in the squad, the most unpredictable, and he was delivering the best season of his career until confinement and the personal and psychological difficulties which then overwhelmed him.

"We miss Ilicic very much. Until February, he was the most decisive player in our attacking sector. It was his season. We do it differently by alternating with the others, but he assured us a superior quality", explained Gasperini.

The “others” are Malinovskyi, Pasalic and Muriel, three players vying for the last available place in Gasperini's 3-4-2-1 attacking trio. The first two are reserved for captain "Papu" Gomez and center forward Zapata.

- Bergamasque adopted -

In the absence of Illicic, it is on the creativity of the small Argentinian dribbler that will depend most of the offensive animation of Atalanta. Alternately leading attacker, winger, N.10 or attacking midfielder, "Papu" can do everything.

"Papu is extraordinary. He always responds, he never gives up. He knows how to interpret matches. He is a universal player, who gives balance", explained Gasperini, adding that the Argentinian was still a little more only that.

"He is the emblem of this team, by his quality and by his application. He plays for the team, where he is needed and where he is useful. He embodies the spirit of Atalanta. C 'is an adopted Bergamasco. "

With Zapata at the forefront, the central defense of Paris SG will face a very different problem. The Colombian doesn't have the short supports, dribbling and changes in direction of Gomez.

But the former Napoli player is arguably the most powerful striker in Serie A, physically ultra-strong and now skillful against goal.

With 28 goals in all competitions last season and 19 this season, Zapata has found at Atalanta the efficiency that it has long lacked and justified the some 25 million euros invested two years ago, for the one of the highest transfers in club history.

Asked a few weeks ago about the most difficult striker to face in Serie A, Leonardo Bonucci immediately gave the name of the Colombian.

"He is tall, sharp, he has the power, the speed. You have to have special attention. He is one of those great players who hit you as soon as you lose your concentration for a moment," explained the Juventus defender.

- Pasalic or Malinovskyi? -

To accompany these two indisputable and replace Ilicic, the favorite is Malinovskyi. Atalanta recruiters went to look for the Ukrainian in Genk and it's a great find.

Used as a joker at the start of the season, he played more with the absence of Ilicic and in particular admired a raw strike, which allowed him to score six goals in the league from outside the area.

Gasperini can also choose Pasalic, a complete midfielder who has finally found a lasting base in Bergamo after being loaned out by Chelsea all over Europe (Elche, Monaco, AC Milan, Spartak Moscow).

The last option, the least likely, is that of a tenure of Muriel, the other Colombian striker of the workforce.

Another big transfer from Atalanta (around 25M), he is Italy's most effective substitute with 11 goals scored after coming on.

He is also the only Atalanta player to have experienced a C1 quarter-final in 2018 with Sevilla. He came into play in both sets against Bayern Munich.

© 2020 AFP