Paris Saint-Germain will look to handle the pressure when they face off against Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in Lisbon.
The French giants have failed to live up to expectations in Europe in recent years but are expected to book their place in the final four this week.
Rusty PSG Can Find a Way
It is fair to say Thomas Tuchel’s men could have enjoyed a better build-up to Wednesday’s tie.
While Atalanta managed to finish their Serie A campaign, PSG’s Ligue 1 season came to a close in March.
Their last competitive game before the coronavirus pandemic took hold was their 2-0 success over Borussia Dortmund.
MATCHDAY @ChampionsLeague 🏆 #ATAPSG
🗓 Quarter Final
🆚 @Atalanta_BC 🇮🇹
🔴🔵 #WeAreParis pic.twitter.com/6Mbh30vvMv— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
They were handed the Ligue 1 title and have since managed to beat Le Havre, Celtic and Sochaux in friendlies.
Tuchel’s side the defeated Saint-Etienne 1-0 to win the Coupe de France, while they also lifted the Coupe de la Ligue after overcoming Lyon on penalties.
In both of those games, PSG looked off the boil, but they found a way to win.
Atalanta’s season ended on August 1, but they did enough to finish third in Serie A to cap off a remarkable campaign.
They have entertained both their fans and neutrals alike this season, but Wednesday’s game is arguably their toughest so far.
The pair have never met in a competitive fixture, and PSG are 1/1 to earn the win in Lisbon.
Atalanta Ready to Go Down Fighting
Atalanta have already made history ahead of kick-off this week, with the Bergamo outfit the first Champions League debutants to reach the last eight since Leicester in 2016/17.
They are the first Italian side to do so since Lazio in the 1999/00 campaign and they will be doing all they can to keep their dream alive.
La Dea have won their last four games and scored eight goals in their last-16 tie against Valencia, recording a spectacular 8-4 aggregate win.
That is as many as they did in their six group games and Atalanta go into the tie with nothing to lose and will look to play on their status as underdogs.
PSG are the favourites and Tuchel may lose his job if he fails to deliver the goods.
In their last nine European games, PSG have scored 21 goals, and it is worth considering over 3.5 goals at odds of 5/4.
Tuchel to turn to Neymar
Tuchel has already given Neymar plenty of motivation in the build-up, by claiming he is the man that can deliver when needed.
The stats prove he is the player for the big occasion, with the Brazilian scoring 12 in his last 16 Champions League knockout games.
With Kylian Mbappe carrying an injury and Angel Di Maria suspended, Neymar may have to drag the team forward on his own, and he is 7/2 to score first.
*All odds correct at time of writing
