Our heroes back to the hotel, filled with joy! 😻 pic.twitter.com/y7cIkfidSl
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 13, 2020
PSG vs. Atalanta score: Paris Saint-Germain stun with two late goals, advance to Champions League semifinals
Marquinhos and Choupo-Moting scored in the dying minutes to give PSG the win
Paris Saint-Germain are onto the Champions League semifinal after a dramatic late winner against the Cinderella story of the competition, Atalanta. The Parisians were down 1-0 until the 90th minute, but scored two injury time goals to keep their Champions League campaign alive in this one-off match. The 2-1 win paved way for their first trip to the Champions League semifinal in 25 years.
All eyes were on PSG's Kylian Mbappe, who entered in the second half after being unable to start due to and ankle injury, and his presence was certainly felt, as he directly assisted in the winning goal. Neymar, despite missing a slew of chances, was also able to get the offense going, even after going down early. They will now face the winner of RB Leipzig vs. Atletico Madrid in the next round.
Redemption!!
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
Marquinhos levels the score with minutes left on the clock! pic.twitter.com/3u3Mgf1yCR
Parisian pandemonium!!
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
PSG takes the lead! pic.twitter.com/xn9CA43pD2
Mbappe, the difference maker
The dramatic victory starts and ends with the substitution of Kylian Mbappe. The French forward -- whose ankle injury was supposed to keep him out of this match -- was fit enough to make it onto the bench for his squad and get substituted in around the 60-minute mark. From the moment he stepped onto the pitch, it was clear Atalanta had no chance at stopping him. Hans Hateboer was absolutely flummoxed every time the Frenchman got the ball as Mbappe didn't need to do anything special to get past his man. His first touch on the ball proved that immediately as the defenders trying to stop the forward were immediately embarrassed while chasing him down the line. The presence turned into mounting pressure that Mbappe put on Atalanta's defense, and eventually things broke down. Mbappe's presence meant less attention was focused on Neymar when he clumsily set up the first goal for Marquinhos, and he directly assisted on the second, making the unselfish decision to pass to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for the winner -- and his first goal in the Champions League this season.
PSG's defense steps up big in second half
Of course, another part of the reason PSG were able to be in a position to get those late winners was because they had stifled Atalanta's otherwordly attacking prowess in the final 45 minutes of the match. The Italian side's threats in the first half had PSG scrambling for possession and looks, but in the second half, all of those threats were snuffed out. PSG's midfield took more control of the ball, and their defense stood tall when they needed to. It feels obvious to say, but it must be noted that this kind of comeback surely does not happen if Atalanta get even one more ball into the back of the net.
Is the Parisian curse over?
As mentioned before, the last time that PSG made it to a Champions League semifinal was 25 years ago, but it's also worth noting that this is just the second time they've reached this stage of the competition in club history -- coincidentally, PSG celebrates 50 years of existence today. What this accomplishment also means is that the club is putting its legacy of choking in this competition as far behind it as possible. Prior to today's win, PSG had lost their previous four quarterfinals in the competition, which included that massive heartbreaker against Barcelona some years ago. This club is going to have to do a lot more winning to completely distance themselves from all the failure they've amassed over the years, but a dramatic win like tonight's is certainly a step in the right direction.
PSG 2, Atalanta 1 -- FINAL (CBS All Access)
⚽Pasalic 27'
⚽Marquinhos 90'
⚽Choupo-Moting 90'+3
Live updates
🎙️ Gian Piero #Gasperini: "È stato un percorso straordinario" 🙌
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 13, 2020
💬 "It's been an extraordinary path" 🙌
🎬 https://t.co/3uihSz8nj3#UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/fou27s4Hdn
The hero of the evening, the unique, the charismatic, the legendary 𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗠𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗢 - 𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 💉 pic.twitter.com/xYCZNvYSBh
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 13, 2020
🎙️ Mario #Pašalić: "C'è tanto rammarico" 👏
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 13, 2020
💬 "There's a lot of regret" 👏
🎬 https://t.co/Bc8DYKU0r3#UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/wzlZ6otyDk
🎙️ @Dirono: "Orgoglioso della squadra, di #BergAMO" 👏
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 13, 2020
💬 Marten #DeRoon: "I'm proud of this team, of Bergamo" 👏
🎬 https://t.co/OmR3gOQpgz#UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/G9BDHduNJp
Svegliarsi così, di soprassalto, è dura, fa male, brucia. Ma rimane il ricordo di un sogno incredibile e straordinario, così come la consapevolezza di potere e volere tornare a sognare. 🖤💙
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 13, 2020
⠀#UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/gqb6fq2QdW
PSG waited until the 90th minute to flip the switch 😅 pic.twitter.com/YXe20YjUNR
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 12, 2020
🤩
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
🤳 Julian Draxler pic.twitter.com/GMwmdzGttU
PSG waited until the 90th minute to flip the switch 😅 pic.twitter.com/PMjiPPfLzV
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
❤️️💙 pic.twitter.com/zZiEl9aaqQ
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
"This is an incredible season. There should be a celebration back in Bergamo."
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
Roberto Martinez hands Atalanta full praise for their performance today and their work all season. pic.twitter.com/LYdJRI3D41
𝕀ℕ𝕋𝕆 𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔼𝕄𝕀-𝔽𝕀ℕ𝔸𝕃! ✅
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
🏆 @ChampionsLeague
❤️ #WeAreParis 💙 pic.twitter.com/ajCPIK2OgO
“You can only maybe feel it in sports, something like this. To describe it, no words.”
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
PSG coach @TTuchelofficial shares his post-match thoughts on what is the club's 50th birthday. pic.twitter.com/l0HJ7TvTiR
Do whatever it takes 💪 @marquinhos_m5 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/dN2x4v1e5C
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
Shoutout to @Atalanta_BC for quite the @ChampionsLeague run.
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
▪️ Narrowly avoided relegation in 2014-2015 season
▪️ Finished 3rd in Serie A in the 2019-2020 season
▪️ Defeated Valencia 8-4 on aggregate in the UCL Round of 16
▪️ Led PSG 1-0 into stoppage time... pic.twitter.com/dbwKtX9D5C
𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 🏆@neymarjr | @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/9B1izQuT7N
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
Neymar Jr., world-class footballer, 🔝 interview crasher 😁 pic.twitter.com/qkt1fr6mKU
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
❤️ 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 💙 pic.twitter.com/0aGVQkaxg3
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
.@KMbappe subbing in like pic.twitter.com/QAtvq6akwM
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
A special day!
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
Our 5⃣0⃣th anniversary and qualification to the semi-finals of the Champions League 🎉
🔴🔵 #ParisEstMagique pic.twitter.com/cIiFWSDG7Q
"That's the key pass I feel, the one from Neymar."
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
A breakdown of the game-winning goal and how PSG was able to rise to the occasion. pic.twitter.com/FUyBWzobZi
Sum up today’s game in three words 👇 #ATAPSG pic.twitter.com/L1ucXivefk
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖 𝗠𝗔𝗫𝗜𝗠 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗢-𝗠𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 💉 pic.twitter.com/ucraJnB58k
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
"What's Neymar done now @Pschmeichel1?!... Stick to goalkeeping"@Carra23 liked that game-winning goal just a bit... 😂 pic.twitter.com/XF2ojtKchg
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
#AtalantaPSG | 1-2 | FULL-TIME
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) August 12, 2020
⏹️ A testa altissima. Orgoliosi di voi, ragazzi!
😢 With your heads held high. We are proud of you, guys! #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/OLSu2rfFZR
UNBELIEVABLE! @PSG_English are into the semi-final of the @ChampionsLeague after a 2-1 win!
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
❤️ #WeAreParis 💙#ATAPSG pic.twitter.com/NjF50z9TBm
That @ChampionsLeague semifinal feeling... pic.twitter.com/ew8ju3J0uO
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
Back-to-back goals in stoppage time 🤯@PSG_English advance to the @ChampionsLeague semifinals! pic.twitter.com/VrdbRkv1vM
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 12, 2020
90+6' Luis Muriel was given a chance streaking alone towards the box, but he was unable to get the pass under control and the ball rolled just out of play for him. It's one he'll want back for a long, long time.