Holding from the title but deprived of several offensive executives, Paris Saint-Germain began the defense of its European crown perfectly by upgrading Atalanta (4-0) during the first day of the Champions League at the Parc des Princes. Marquinhos opened the brand in the 3rd minute, followed by KVaratskhelia before the break (39th), then Nuno Mendes in the 51st and finally Gonçalo Ramos in additional time (90th+1). Despite a busy infirmary, Luis Enrique was able to align an attractive and conquering team, which imposed its pace and intensity from the first minutes, confirming that PSG remains the ogre of the competition: “It was the goal. We are reigning champions. We wanted to show that the level would be the same. Hoping that the purpose is the same. The Atalanta was smothered the first ten minutes is necessarily a big signal. A signal that the team is motivated“Even explained Lucas Chevalier.
If the Atalanta of Ivan Jurić is still in the reconstruction phase after the Gasperini era, it is usually a very difficult team to maneuver on the European scene. But Tuesday evening, PSG smothered her with his high pressing, his passes and his permanent occupation of the spaces. With 711 successful assists and 67 % possession, Paris confiscated the ball to the Italians and multiplied the waves offensive. The Parisians drew 22 times (including 15 in the area) and obtained 10 large opportunities with also 6 corners played. An impressive balance of power that highlighted the difference in level between the two training courses. And if the scoring of (4-0) is already a salty addition, it could have been much more scathing with a few large opportunities, notably the post affected by Achraf Hakimi (10th), the penalty missed by Bradley Barcola (44th) and his goal refused a little earlier (22nd).
The prudence of Luis Enrique
Through this demonstration, Luis Enrique continues to assert his footprint on the Parisian workforce and his science of major meetings. The Spaniard now displays 65 % of victories in the Champions League (41 out of 63 games), the best ratio for a coach who directed at least 50 games in the competition, ahead of Pep Guardiola (62 %). Despite all this, the Treur coach does not want to talk about a message sent to the competition: “It was not our intention. The goal was to start this campaign well with an important first match for us. We have made a very good performance against a team that defends in one-of-one, and I think we deserved this victory. We continue the work started two years ago. There are still things to improve, but I liked our mentality and our intensity. We created a lot of opportunities». His PSG has found a rare balance between defensive rigor and offensive creativity, and the dynamics always seem stronger despite the absences. The Spanish coach does not hesitate to trust the young people, who respond present as the unique association Mayulu-Barcola-Kvaratskhelia has still shown.
With 133 goals scored in 2025 – more than any other club of the five major championships in the calendar year – and a series of 30 consecutive games at home with at least one goal scored in the group phase/league (85 goals since 2015), PSG is a little more in the legend of European evenings. This inaugural 4-0 was both a technical demonstration and a warning for its direct competitors. Even weakened, Paris remains of formidable efficiency and intensity: “I looked at the first half from the stands, because I have a better vision of the game. I saw that the players have well overcome their pressing, brilliantly. It's easier to analyze the opponent's identity and pressing from up there. They defended a little in another way in the second period. There is not really any goal, because as you know, our calendar is very different from that of others. It will be difficult to win five matches and make a draw, because we have the most complicated calendar». A few days before the “classic” against Olympique de Marseille, this success gives the European champion maximum confidence and sends a clear signal to all of Europe in football: PSG intends to defend its title with the same determination.
