For its entry into the Champions League, PSG left the Atalanta no chance, winning 4-0 in the Parc des Princes. Marquinhos opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the 39th, Nuno Mendes increased the scoring upon the return of the locker room, and Gonçalo Ramos concluded in additional time. Holding the title and despite several absences, Paris simply rolled on the Italian team thanks to an exceptional technical and physical mastery, confirming that the troops of Lutèce remained the undisputed patterns of the European continent.
For Ivan Jurić, Atalanta coach, this meeting was a shock: “I think the physical difference was enormous. We played very well after the first goal, when we had the necessary 25 minutes and we should not have taken the second. However, it is clear that they are at a level clearly higher than ours today. I think we are missing four players: Kolasinac, Lookman, Scamacca and Ederson, who have a particular impact. I have seen several players who, in my opinion, can compete at this level. Kossounou, from Ketelaere, Bellanova, and there are young players still in development, like Musah and Brescianini. I think that over time, as injured players are recovering, we will become competitive again ”.
“Against PSG, you choose how you want to die”
Paris superiority was not limited to offensive efficiency. Juric underlined the enormous level gap between the two teams: “It is not a question of attitude, but the difference was enormous. This match must be analyzed with lucidity. I think PSG is at a different level from what we see around us. I saw a performance that gives us courage for the future. We played very well after the first goal, but it is clear that they are too far ahead of us. Would I do the same choices? Or would I bring a center-forward to give them more courage? It is not courage. Daniel (Maldini, editor's note) should have played this role, identical to that of Krstovic thereafter, but his performance was not good». Despite an ATALANTA applied with players like Kossounou, Ketelaere or Musah capable of competing in the future, tactical choices were not enough to contain a fluid and collective PSG. The outcome of the match would probably have been identical, as the level gap is abyssal.
At a press conference, Jurić also analyzed his team's strategy against the reigning European champions: “Honestly, we analyzed them carefully. Should we have been more cautious and go back? By analyzing the matches and doing this, the others lost heavily. The only teams like Lens and Strasbourg who played well against them were those who played high. It was the only option, after you have to choose how you want to die, in a way, against PSG. We have chosen this approach, and I have personally learned many positive lessons. I think that playing PSG helps us understand what it takes to be competitive at a certain level. The finish line is still far away, but by recovering all our absent players, we can be competitive». This meeting marked the first juris match in the most prestigious European competition. After having announced that he wanted to rebatch the cards despite the success against Lecce, the situation did not turn in his favor.
