For its entry into this phase of Champions League group, Paris Saint-Germain did not tremble. In a boiling prince park, Luis Enrique's men largely dominated Atalanta (4-0) on this first day. Marquinhos quickly opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, followed by a goal full of composure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 39th. Nuno Mendes broke the nail on the return from the changing rooms (51st) before Gonçalo Ramos seals Parisian success in additional time (90th+1). An ideal scenario that perfectly launches the European campaign of the capital's club, holding the title of the competition.
Deprived of Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Enrique had recomposed his attacking trio around Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, supported by Senny Mayulu and Bradley Barcola. The only survivor of the usual holder trio, the Georgian assumed his status from the first balloons. Very available between the lines, the native of Tbilisi has multiplied the interior calls to unbalance the compact block of Atalanta. His award arrived quickly with a goal full of composure in the 39th minute, symbol of a PSG in confidence and an already decisive player in major European meetings, even without his usual offensive companions.
A reassuring performance with the massacre of injuries
Beyond his goal, Kvaratskhelia was the technical and creative anchor of PSG throughout the game. Without gifted or unmolded to magnetize the opposing defenses, it was he who brought percussion and creativity, by combining with Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz to create discrepancies. Its dribbles in the left corridor – three successful at three attempts – allowed Nuno Mendes to project themselves higher and mark in the 51st minute. “We are very happy to have won, we played very well. We did our job well. I think it was a very beautiful match. (On his goal) I don't really remember it, I would have to look at him. I prefer the one against Aston Villa last season. I find that we are progressing, we work very hard ”he said at the microphone of Canal+. He also distributed 58 successful passes out of 67, or 87 % precision, including 4 key assists, as well as 3 centers including 2 successful to feed his teammates. This suction and fixing work offered spaces in Barcola and Mayulu, which may have existed more over the match. This service confirms that Kvaratskhelia stands out as one of the headliners of the Parisian offensive project Luis Enrique. Its complementarity with circles and the laterals made the difference against an overly cautious Atalanta.
Very involved in duels (7 duels on the ground, 6 won) and precise even in long passes (2 tempted, 1 successful), the former Naples player gave binder and volume to the Parisian game. With the fourth goal signed Gonçalo Ramos in additional time, PSG sent a strong message to Europe: even decreased offensively, it remains capable of imposing its rhythm and its intensity. The rest of the league phase promises to be promising for Parisians, with a KVaratskhelia in full confidence and more and more central in the plans of the Spanish coach. In the context of a massacre of injuries, this flamboyant copy of Kvara sounds like a reassuring signal for PSG. Luis Enrique was able to see that his team remained competitive and creative despite a diminished workforce. This ideal 4-0 perfectly launches the continental campaign, while offering a good confidence dose before the first big shock of the season in Ligue 1: travel to the Vélodrome to face Olympique de Marseille on Sunday.
