Paris Saint-Germain take on Atalanta in the first of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday evening aiming to keep alive their quest for an unprecedented quadruple.
PSG have already swept aside every team in France and have ruthlessly secured the domestic treble. What lies ahead now is to triumph on the continental stage for the first time. The dark horses, Atalanta could pose serious threats to their conquests though.
The one-legged match will be played at the Estadio da Luz after the remainder of UEFA's showpiece competition was shifted to Lisbon in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
PLAYERS TO MISS OUT:
PSG:
PSG will be without winger Angel Di Maria missing through suspension, and the injured Marco Verrati and Laywin Kurzawa, while their top scorer and ace forward Kylian Mbappe looks almost certain to miss out even after resuming training.
ATALANTA:
Like their opponents, the Italians will be without their leading marksman Josip Illicic, who has returned to Slovenia amidst personal issues. At the other end of the pitch, goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini has also been ruled out due to an ankle injury.
PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
NEYMAR:
The Brazilian talisman, for once, is fully fit and running. After scoring in both legs against Dortmund, PSG finally see their €222 m man paying off the investment. An absolute showman, he plays the game like no other. Only Ronaldo, Messi and Lewandowski have scored more goals in the UCL knockouts than Neymar since 2014/15. Can he step up and pave their way for the semi-finals?
MAURO ICARDI:
Almost rejuvenated after making the switch from Inter Milan, Icardi is back to his deadly best, and has been banging in goals left and right. Having scored 6 goals in 5 matches against Atalanta from his time in Italy, he will be a menace for the defenders who will have to pay dearly if they make the slightest of errors against the red hot Argentine.
ATALANTA:
DUVAN ZAPATA:
The Colombian hitman continues to terrorise defenses with his speed, physicality and shooting prowess. His 23 goals in the last year, and 18 this season, prove just how lethal he has been in front of goal. His tearing runs will surely give Thiago Silva and Co. nightmares.
ALEJANDRO GOMES:
The diminutive number 10 weaves magic in midfield and notched up 16 assists in the league this season. Quick feet, technically gifted and a dynamic technician, his spectacular displays are a major reason Atalanta have reached such heights. That nutmeg and pinpoint finish against Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage? Voila.
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