PSG Open Their Champions League Defence Against Atalanta

PSG vs Atalanta

PSG will commence their Champions League title defence on Wednesday, when Atalanta visit them at Parc des Princes for their first league phase contest of the season.

Luis Enrique’s men lifted the trophy for the first time last season after a spectacular 5-0 result against Inter Milan in the final, and they followed it up with a penalty shootout win against Tottenham during the UEFA Super Cup after losing to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final beforehand. As far as their Ligue 1 campaign is concerned, the Parisiens have won four straight against Nantes (1-0), Angers (1-0), Toulouse (6-3), and Lens (2-0).

Meanwhile, Atalanta are off to a slow start under new manager Ivan Juric. After dropping points in their first three Serie A matches against Juventus (2-1), Pisa (1-1), and Parma (1-1), La Dea finally earned their first win against Lecce last weekend (4-1).

 

Talking Points

Injuries mounting for PSG

PSG are off to a brisk start this season, but head coach Luis Enrique is worried that the team might not be able to sustain their form in the next few weeks. Enrique’s concern is valid due to the injuries his players have picked up in recent days.

The Parisiens are already missing the services of Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, as the two Frenchmen were forced off during France’s 2-0 win against Ukraine during the World Cup qualifiers earlier this month. This reportedly angered PSG’s front office because of their importance to the team. Dembele (hamstring) is estimated to be out for at least six weeks, while Doue (calf) will be sidelined for around four weeks.

During the team’s win over Lens, PSG added a few more injuries, as Lucas Beraldo, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Kang-In Lee were all forced off and are doubtful to play against Atalanta. In better news, Fabian Ruiz, Nuno Mendes, and Marquinhos are expected to be back in the lineup.

Dembele and Doue’s prolonged absences will open more opportunities for Goncalo Ramos, Bradley Barcola, and Ibrahim Mbaye to shine, and they should have enough quality to lead up front in the meantime.

 

Atalanta still have valid attacking concerns

After failing to score more than once in their first three games, Atalanta finally broke through last Sunday, as they carved Lecce’s defence open. Giorgio Scalvini and Nicola Zalewski had one goal each, and Charles De Ketelaere bagged a brace in the second half.

Head coach Ivan Juric will deploy the front three of De Ketelaere, Nikola Krstovic, and Daniel Maldini, with Kamaldeen Sulemana and Gianluca Scamacca as his bench options. Among them, De Ketelaere is the most dangerous man, as he has registered nine goal involvements from 10 Champions League matches last term.

Ademola Lookman is not yet ready to return from his exile after not getting the summer transfer he wanted. On the other hand, Ederson (knee) and Sead Kolasinac (knee) will miss the PSG contest due to injuries.

 

History

Wednesday only marks the second meeting between PSG and Atalanta. The Parisiens won 2-1 in their first encounter during the 2019-20 Champions League quarter-finals, as Marquinhos and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s stoppage-time goals overturned a one-goal deficit created by Mario Pasalic.

PSG have only lost one of their last 11 encounters against Italian sides in major European competition, with their last defeat being a 2-1 result against AC Milan in November 2023 during the 2023-24 Champions League group stage. Their 5-0 victory against Inter Milan in last season’s final was their largest margin of victory in a Champions League showpiece.

Luis Enrique boasts a 64.5-per cent win record in the Champions League, the highest win percentage of any coach with at least 50 matches overseen. In stark contrast, Ivan Juric has never managed in the Champions League. His only experience as a coach in major European competition (excluding qualifiers) came in last season’s Europa League, having coached AS Roma in four matches (W1, D2, L1).

 

Betting Tip

The SBOTOP Champions League 2025 odds are backing the Parisiens to defeat their Bergamo-based visitors this Wednesday evening. PSG are 1.44 favourites to win, whereas Atalanta are 5.70 underdogs, and a draw is at 4.24 in the 1X2 market.

Both clubs should have goals and Champions League 2025 highlights between them, despite missing several key players. So, besides our recommended bet, bettors can also add Total Goals 2-3 at 2.08 and Over 2.75 at 1.75 to the parlay. Moreover, a Correct Score of 2-1 in favour of PSG – the result of their last Champions League encounter – could yield a robust payday of 7.40 your bet.

   

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