Paris Saint-Germain made a strong start to their Champions League title defence with a comfortable 4-0 win against Atalanta. The result also ended Atalanta’s eight-match unbeaten run away from home in the group stage.
It took just three minutes for PSG to score. Marquinhos pressed high up the pitch, won the ball, and finished off a clever pass from Fabián Ruiz. PSG kept the pressure on in the early stages, with Nuno Mendes and Senny Mayulu going close. Bradley Barcola and Achraf Hakimi also forced good saves from Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi. Atalanta had a chance through Odilon Kossounou, but he sent his shot well over.
PSG thought they had a second goal, but Barcola was slightly offside before scoring. Atalanta started to grow into the game, but then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia broke through their defence and fired in a powerful shot to make it 2-0.
Just before half-time, PSG won a penalty when Yunus Musah fouled Marquinhos, but Barcola’s effort was too weak and saved by the keeper.
Atalanta made two changes at half-time, but it made little difference. Just six minutes after the restart, Mendes scored a brilliant third goal from a tight angle after a clever team move.
There was a worry for PSG when João Neves went off injured around the hour mark, but goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier made sure Atalanta didn’t get back into the game with a smart save from Nikola Krstović.
In the final stages, Gonçalo Ramos punished a poor backpass from Raoul Bellanova, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 4-0.
It was a dominant performance by PSG, who have now won all of their matches this season in the Super Cup and Ligue 1. They made a strong statement as they began their Champions League campaign, while Atalanta suffered their first defeat of the season after starting Serie A with two draws and a win.
