PSG 4-0 Atalanta: Dea outclassed in Paris

European champions Paris Saint-Germain took Atalanta to the cleaners as they began the defence of the title won last season.

The scoreline could have been more than 4-0, but we could thank Marco Carnesecchi, who also saved a penalty, which kept the scoreline in the 4-nil drubbing of the Serie A side. 

La Dea had gone into the clash against the Champions League holders on the back of their first Serie A win of the season against Lecce (4-0) over the weekend.

La Dea had stuttered under new coach Ivan Juric. They are travelling to Paris and made the worst possible start, conceding within two minutes at Parc des Princes.

The hosts opened the scoring when Fabian Ruiz sprung the offside trap down the left and rolled across for the tap-in from ex-Roma defender Marquinhos.

The holders have a chance to make it two moments later when Nuno Mendes, who was clear on a ball over the top that surprised Odilon Kossounou, but his effort was denied when one-on-one by Marco Carnesecchi.

After his reaction save, the goalkeeper again made a one-handed save to deny Bradley Barcola, before making a stunning fingertip save from Fabian Ruiz’s back-heel flick set up Achraf Hakimi.

Atalanta’s first chance of the game came on the 18th minute, but Kossounou ballooned his shot over from 12 yards from Charles De Ketelaere’s lay-off.

Barcola scored, but his goal was chalked off after Mario Pasalic was robbed in midfield. The goal didn’t stand because the French winger was offside when firing into the near bottom corner.

PSG continued their dominance in the second half after Atalanta had some possession. Just as Atalanta had begun to settle, PSG went 2-0 up.

The goal was down to a moment of solo magic from winger Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian gathered deep into midfield, surged forward through the middle, and swept in from the edge of the area with the inside of the right boot.

Yunus Musah, in his first start for Atalanta, conceded a penalty when he clumsily trod on the boot of Marquinhos, spotted by VAR. Barcola couldn’t score with his weak and scuffed spot-kick, which was smothered by Carnesecchi to keep Atalanta alive.

The host eventually got the third when Nuno Mendes got down the left, cut back to send Marten de Roon to ground, then drilled through Carnesecchi’s legs from the tightest of angles.

Pasalic’s header was an easy catch for Lucas Chevalier, while Raoul Bellanova shinned a volley from 12 yards, and Nikola Krstovic’s half-volley was smothered.

PSG eventually made it four after Bellanova gifted Goncalo Ramos

The fourth in stoppages with a horrible back-pass, not realising he was ready to intercept and beat Carnesecchi from point-blank range with a delicate dink.