Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1995." data-reactid="19">Paris Saint-Germain produced an extraordinary turnaround in the final by beating Atalanta 2-1 and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1995.
Mario Pasalic’s goal in the first half looked set to end a game in Lisbon that will be remembered for a series of Neymar’s first-half mistakes, the worst of which came in the third minute.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have dominated big bouts but seemed short on acuity after playing a few games in the past five months, even after introducing Kylian Mbappe off the bench after shaking off an ankle injury.
However, Marquinhos pushed home a fortuitous equalizer in the 90th minute before Neymar and Mbappe teamed up to set Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting to become the unlikely hero and break Atalanta’s hearts.
INCREDIBLE! @PSG_English enters the semifinal of the @ChampionsLeague after a 2-1 win!
#WeAreParis #ATAPSG pic.twitter.com/NjF50z9TBm
– Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
Keylor Navas saved by Alejandro Gomez but it was Neymar who missed the best of the first occasions, combining brilliantly with Mauro Icardi only to unbalance a very wide final with the goal at his mercy.
Navas then produced two exceptional stops to keep out the heads of Hans Hateboer and Mattia Caldara, even though the latter was in an offside position.
Neymar created another opening only to fail to take advantage of it, but Pasalic made no mistake in the 27th minute, curling a first arrival behind Navas after the ball was deflected on its trajectory by Duvan Zapata.
Neymar had become the only PSG player who seemed capable of scoring, yet it was the reason they were left behind in the first half, the Brazilian star dancing and making his way through and then shooting after an errant pass from Hateboer.
Berat Djmisiti fired wide after a set kick before Tuchel turned to Mbappe with just over half an hour left and then lunged at Julian Draxler as despair grew.
Mbappe punched a straight shot at Marco Sportiello and Neymar did the same after another laborious run, and a brilliant challenge from Jose Luis Palomino denied Mbappe from close range.
Just as Atalanta seemed to have done enough for another famous win, Neymar turned a deep cross into Marquinhos’ path and finished at Caldara’s knee.
And 149 seconds later, Neymar released Mbappe in the box, the French striker punched the ball through the area and Choupo-Moting slid in to send PSG into the last four to face RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid.
League success wasn’t enough to spare Maurizio Sarri from being fired after Juventus were knocked out by Lyon, and Tuchel was likely facing a similar fate as the clock hit the 90th minute.
The credit must be given to his players, who fought until those crucial final chances came – and few would have thought it was former Stoke City man Choupo-Moting to provide the killer touch.
Atalanta will feel deflated, having played so well all season during their first visit to the top of Europe.
16 – Neymar completed 16 dribbles against Atalanta tonight, the most of a player in a single Champions League game since Lionel Messi-Manchester United in April 2008. Twist. #ATAPSG pic.twitter.com/WpT1ONRZVV
– OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 12, 2020
In the first half in particular, Neymar was dazzling at times. Atalanta had a set-up designed to limit their room to maneuver, yet they have overcome challenges like in a video game.
He had 112 touches in the match, created four chances, contested 33 duels and attempted 50 passes in the Atalanta half-court – and played a key role in both goals.
Those missed!
Neymar’s rebellious halftime finish looked set to descend into infamy – the former had Mbappe watching in disbelief – and PSG nearly paid the price.
Next Tuesday PSG will face RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid.
