Lisbon (AFP)

A semi-final of the Champions League for its fiftieth anniversary? With three matches of an unprecedented European coronation, PSG begins its "Final 8" in the quarterfinals against Atalanta Bergamo (9:00 pm) Wednesday in Lisbon, with the fierce desire to write history despite several notable absentees.

After the curse of the eighths, Paris hopes to be stronger than the lack of rhythm and the black series of injuries: from Marco Verratti, a priori forfeit, to Kylian Mbappé, who keeps the hope of appearing on the substitute bench, even the coach Thomas Tuchel, injured in a foot, has not escaped!

Succeeding in qualifying without his best weapons, five months after the emotional lift of the eighth against Dortmund and the incredible paralysis of the competitions caused by the coronavirus, it is however the immense challenge which awaits Neymar's teammates at the Estádio da Luz, 50 years to the day after the official creation of Paris Saint-Germain on August 12, 1970.

In a cleaver match, which leaves no room for error "a bit like in a World Cup", the Brazilian N.10 will finally meet his ambition: to raise the PSG, which recruited him against the record sum of 222 million euros in 2017, on the roof of Europe.

The new format of the final tournament ("Final 8"), behind closed doors and under high health surveillance, offers a unique opportunity to PSG and its Qatari owners to achieve eight seasons of huge investments. And PSG is only three matches away from this historic consecration.

- Mbappé "will be in the team" -

"It is a very important title, not only for the players but for the club. For the supporters, it would represent something incredible! I came to Paris for this adventure, for this objective", entrusted in an interview to AFP Thiago Silva, captain of PSG.

It remains to first eliminate Bergamo, martyr city of the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe and surprise team of the season in Serie A, without Verratti or Mbappé, the two favorite partners of "Ney".

If the Italian metronome stayed in Paris to heal his calf, the three-day training course in Faro allowed "KM" to get back on his feet, returning to collective training less than three weeks after his ankle injury.

From there being able to apply for a starting place against Atalanta? "If he has a good training Tuesday night and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be in the squad on Wednesday," Tuchel told reporters on Tuesday optimistically.

"We are very happy to have the opportunity to finish the match with Kylian because it gives Neymar a player who likes to play next to him," revealed the Parisian coach, who intends to play in a 4-game system. -3-3 more cautious, where Pablo Sarabia is the favorite to accompany Neymar and Mauro Icardi in attack.

The fact remains that the Parisian offensive line worries since the resumption with only one goal scored in 210 minutes of competition, and that it will also be deprived of Angel Di Maria, suspended.

- Bergamo without two frames -

To contain the intense pressing of the Italians without Verratti, the host of the midfield, the German technician plans to align a solid trident around the defender Marquinhos, repositioned as the sentry.

Because Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta has established itself as one of the continent's most feared "goal machines" with in particular 98 goals scored in the Italian Championship, finished in 3rd place.

Like Paris, Bergamo will however have to do without two executives: goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini and especially striker Josip Ilicic, author of 20 goals this season, including a memorable quadruple in the round of 16 return to Valencia.

Without the most talented player in the squad, however, the Italian club has other assets to surprise against one of the favorites of the tournament.

From creative captain "Papu" Gomez to powerful center-forward Duvan Zapata, not to mention Ruslan Malinovskyi, Mario Pasalic and Luis Muriel, all dream of shining in the eyes of the whole world to pay tribute to the 17,000 victims of Covid-19 in Lombardy.

Fall at the opening of the "Final 8" on its 50th anniversary or launch a formidable two-week adventure: Paris has an unmissable event with its history.

© 2020 AFP