PSG Dominates Atalanta 4-0 in Champions League Opener

In a stunning display of skill and dominance, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Atalanta in their opening match of the UEFA Champions League on September 19, 2023. The Italian club struggled to cope with PSG’s relentless attack, while goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi stood out as Atalanta’s only significant performer, making several crucial saves, including a penalty stop.

Atalanta arrived in Paris with a weakened squad, missing key players such as Gianluca Scamacca, Ederson, Sead Kolasinac, and unsettled forward Ademola Lookman. New coach Ivan Juric faced an uphill battle, handing 21-year-old Lorenzo Bernasconi his first start and deploying Daniel Maldini as the lead striker over Nikola Krstovic. Meanwhile, PSG was without notable names including Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Lucas Beraldo, with Kang-in Lee also not fully fit.

PSG wasted no time establishing their dominance, taking the lead just two minutes into the match. Fabian Ruiz broke through the Atalanta defense and squared the ball for former Roma defender Marquinhos, who tapped it into the net. Moments later, Nuno Mendes nearly doubled the score, but Carnesecchi showcased his skills with a brilliant one-on-one save.

The goalkeeper continued to impress, making a fingertip stop against Achraf Hakimi after previously denying Bradley Barcola. Atalanta’s first opportunity came at the 18-minute mark when Odilon Kossounou shot over the bar after receiving a pass from Charles De Ketelaere.

PSG’s pressure was relentless, and they struck again through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who executed a stunning solo run, curling a shot into the net from the edge of the box. As the match progressed, Carnesecchi made another vital save, stopping Barcola’s penalty after Yunus Musah committed a foul on Marquinhos.

After halftime, Mendes finally found the net, cutting inside Marten de Roon and firing a shot through the goalkeeper’s legs from a tight angle, further extending PSG’s lead. Atalanta attempted to mount a response with efforts from Mario Pasalic, Raoul Bellanova, and Krstovic, but none were capable of troubling PSG’s keeper, Lucas Chevalier.

In the dying moments of the match, substitute Goncalo Ramos took advantage of a costly error from Bellanova, deftly chipping the ball over Carnesecchi to secure the emphatic 4-0 victory for PSG.

The defeat underscored Atalanta’s ongoing struggles under Juric, while PSG’s dominant performance reaffirmed their status as strong contenders to defend their Champions League title. As the tournament progresses, both teams will need to address their challenges in order to find success in this prestigious competition.