Paris Saint-Germain – Atalanta: Solid Start For The Defending Champion (4-0)

Luis Enrique’s men once again delivered another football recital, dismantling the Italian pressing system, with Nuno Mendes shining as what he truly is: the best full-back on the planet.

Tactical analysis and match report by Juan Lauz.

The clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Atalanta was one of the most attractive fixtures of this opening phase of the Champions League. For the Parisians, the match carried special symbolic value: it marked the beginning of their first defense of the European crown achieved last season, a title that finally ended the club’s eternal wait to conquer the Champions League. Under Luis Enrique, PSG arrived with intact confidence and a perfect start in Ligue 1, where they had collected four wins from four matches.

On the other side stood an Atalanta in full transition. After the departure of Gian Piero Gasperini, architect of an unforgettable era, the Bergamo side introduced new ideas under the direction of Ivan Jurić. The Croatian, true to his intensity and pragmatism, had managed to keep his team unbeaten at the start of Serie A (one victory and two draws) whist fine-tuning a new style that combined aggression off the ball with a greater ability to sustain long possessions. For La Dea, this European debut represented the chance to cause an upset and trouble the defending champion.

The matchup promised not only because of the background but also because of the players on the pitch. PSG lined up with their gala XI in a 4-3-3: Chevalier in goal; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes in defense; a midfield of Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Fabián Ruiz sharing tasks at the . . .