PSG PINCH GLORY

Cruel on Atalanta as Choupo-Moting wins it for Neymar and pals

THEY said he wasn’t fit but he certainly looked it in Lisbon. Kylian Mbappe came off the bench for the final half an hour to wrestle this game away from Atalanta at the death.

Mbappe didn’t score either of the goals but he made the difference. Flat and relying solely on their other superstar Neymar during a first half that saw the Italian team take the lead through Mario Pasalic, PSG looked to be heading out of the competition early yet again.

But Mbappe’s arrival changed the game and after a clutch of chances came and went PSG scored twice in the final moments to send Atalanta home from Portugal.

Neymar was involved in the equaliser, supplying a pass in the 90th minute that central defender Marquinhos turned in to the net with the help of a deflection from defender Mattia Caldara. Then, 149 seconds later, Neymar and Mbappe combined wonderfully to supply former Stoke City Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting with the winner from six yards.

It was a tumultuous finish to a good game and it was impossible not to feel sorry for Atalanta, the team from Bergamo, the north Italian city ravaged by Covid-19 back in March.

Showing a typical burst of pace early to run clear early on, PSG striker Neymar was soon in on goal. He only had Atalanta’s reserve goalkeeper to beat but couldn’t do it, his side-footed shot passing the wrong side of the post by a yard and a half.

It was an extraordinary miss and one that set the tone for PSG’s rather disjointed first-half display.

The French side were dangerous at times, even with Mbappe stuck on the bench with an injury, but were not clinical. Neymar failed to find Mauro Icardi to his left when set free down the flank by Ander Herrera and missed another great chance himself just before half-time.

In between those, the Brazilian cut inside to fizz a low shot inches wide but, by that time PSG were a goal behind.

Atalanta seemed to be enjoying themselves a little more and were certainly more relaxed in front of goal. That was demonstrated when they took the lead in the 27th minute.

The Italians were possibly a little fortunate to get the run of the ball in the penalty area but the first-time left-foot finish applied by the Croatian Pasilic high back across goal in to the keeper’s top corner was perfectly executed.

Much of Neymar’s football had been of a high standard but he rarely appeared to be on the same wave length as his team-mates.

PSG looked to strike back immediately but stuttered. On the hour, Mbappe came off the bench and almost immediately PSG looked more dangerous.

By that time, Atalanta could have had the game wrapped up.

A glorious chance to score a second goal fell to Berat Djimsiti in the 58th minute but the defender could only volley it wide when the ball dropped to him on the angle of the six-yard box following a a set piece.

From that point on the threat from PSG grew. It was never a siege but the pressure did become continuous as the French team sought to avoid another huge Champions League blow.

Stationed on the left, Mbappe was persistently dangerous but couldn’t beat Marco Sportiello when through from an angle with 16 minutes left, the keeper saving with his knees.

But in the end, they got the two late goals they needed and are into the last four.