The quarterfinals kick off today, so let us convene, quarrel, and banter. PSG–Atalanta starts at 3 PM EST, and I’ll be in here right around then. We’re gonna do these again tomorrow and Friday (and maybe Saturday), too. Until the games begin, please enjoy this doctored video.
PSG finally win that "what champions are made of"-type game that everyone has seemingly been waiting for, and now pundits are saying that this wasn't an impressive performance. /shrug
Enjoyed this, as always. What a game. Hopefully we get three more of those. We'll do it again tomorrow. Thanks all!
Love seeing Choupo-Moting's name on the team sheet. Every elite team should be required to have at least one journeyman on the roster. Mark Noble would look great in the Juve stripes.
Hate to see Atalanta go down like that; I mean this; I'm not saying it in the Internet-ironic sense. But man, PSG might just be the real deal. They absolutely deserved to win, and they can take control of a game like no one else. Atalanta were underdogs in every way, but they've also been at an elite level like this all season long. Dominating them isn't easy! I wonder how much fitness played a role in this one, too. Atalanta have played a ton of games over the past month and a half. PSG have barely played any. Certainly fits with the flow of the match.
Shame that Neymar is an absolutely world-class possession player. If not, he would never have been in place to fuck up either of those chances in the first place.
OK! I'm here. Atalanta 2, PSG 1. Am I confident in that pick? Absolutely not. But no Di Maria, Verrati, AND Mbappe knocks PSG down a gear, while even without Ilicic, I still think Atalanta will basically still be Atalanta. Let's go!
Watching Neymar today makes me realize how little I get to actually see him. Would love to have him go to the Prem some day (I know it’s probably unrealistic). What a player - I guess we’ll enjoy him in the MLS in 10 years
I must admit I've only seen like two Atalanta matches this season. Does Hateboer always play a wingback/wide target man combo? He looks like freaking Mario Mandzukic out there. If you played Mandzukic at right back.
Atalanta are defending -- well, those three words are enough of a shock. But they're defending well! Mbappe and Neymar are carving out space because they're Mbappe and Neymar, but these haven't been great chances by any means.
How is everyone else navigating the "want Atalanta to win, but also want to see more games of Mbappe + Neymar + etc. playing against non-croissant level competition" conundrum?
PSG finally win that "what champions are made of"-type game that everyone has seemingly been waiting for, and now pundits are saying that this wasn't an impressive performance. /shrug
Enjoyed this, as always. What a game. Hopefully we get three more of those. We'll do it again tomorrow. Thanks all!
Just eight take-ons for Neymar so far. He's completed all eight.
Final stats, per Stats Perform:
-Atalanta 0.5 xG, PSG 3.01 (!!!!!!!)
-Atalanta 9 shots, 4 on target, PSG 17 (6)
-Atalanta attacking-third passes 79, PSG 75
-Atalanta penalty-area passes 5, PSG 10
LET US GO!
Just two unimpeded breakaways through the first three minutes so far. Disappointing.
Love seeing Choupo-Moting's name on the team sheet. Every elite team should be required to have at least one journeyman on the roster. Mark Noble would look great in the Juve stripes.
That ball from Neymar was just so, so good.
Turns out my stream IS behind. ECM is the best player in the world.
Halftime: 0.31xG for Atalanta, 0.61 for PSG. Neymar has 10 of PSG's 13 take-ons and all four of their shots. He's been awesome, except for, you know.
Sergio Rico AND Eric Choupo-Moting on for PSG. What a fuckin world.
Peter Schmeichel? Turns out he's a terrible commentator!
Hate to see Atalanta go down like that; I mean this; I'm not saying it in the Internet-ironic sense. But man, PSG might just be the real deal. They absolutely deserved to win, and they can take control of a game like no one else. Atalanta were underdogs in every way, but they've also been at an elite level like this all season long. Dominating them isn't easy! I wonder how much fitness played a role in this one, too. Atalanta have played a ton of games over the past month and a half. PSG have barely played any. Certainly fits with the flow of the match.
this is how every good cinderella story ends...at the hands of a sovereign wealth fund
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
SERGIO RICO IS ON PSG?????? Totally forgot about that. How many relegated Premier League players do they have?
Shame that Neymar is an absolutely world-class possession player. If not, he would never have been in place to fuck up either of those chances in the first place.
OK! I'm here. Atalanta 2, PSG 1. Am I confident in that pick? Absolutely not. But no Di Maria, Verrati, AND Mbappe knocks PSG down a gear, while even without Ilicic, I still think Atalanta will basically still be Atalanta. Let's go!
have to do a little work but if I don’t make it in time for kickoff don’t worry! I have already locked in Atalanta +.5.
Watching Neymar today makes me realize how little I get to actually see him. Would love to have him go to the Prem some day (I know it’s probably unrealistic). What a player - I guess we’ll enjoy him in the MLS in 10 years
As soon as Ryan brought up ECM, you just knew he was gonna be the key to a PSG win
at least the the bitcoin price is rising so this was a free loss
Really good game so far
I must admit I've only seen like two Atalanta matches this season. Does Hateboer always play a wingback/wide target man combo? He looks like freaking Mario Mandzukic out there. If you played Mandzukic at right back.
Is James Milner going to be a better coach than Pirlo or was Milner just a better player than him?
Franco didn't really give a full explanation of "chocolate"
such a shame the 6'4' messi, josip iličić is out...FIFA should have an award for best player over 6'4' like how cbb has one for best player under 6 ft
Atalanta are defending -- well, those three words are enough of a shock. But they're defending well! Mbappe and Neymar are carving out space because they're Mbappe and Neymar, but these haven't been great chances by any means.
Gotta say, this is NOT what I was expecting from the second half. PSG really haven't created much, and neither have Atalanta.
The fake fans are currently booing ... who?
I don't feel great about Mbappe coming on so soon after that injury. I'm not not nervous.
Feels like there have been a ton of free kicks -- for both teams -- from just about 40 yards from goal, between the penalty area and sidelines
Here comes Ruslan Mal-Nick-Young-Inovsky https://understat.com/player/7947
Neymar has been a sliiiiiightly below average finisher over the past five seasons. And, uh, yeah ... https://understat.com/player/2099
15 minutes in, and PSG have completed ONE pass in the attacking third.
I like how Atalanta just became Stoke
Do you think these knockout round games should stay 1-leg going forward? I gotta say this is more exciting for me than 2-legs.
Icardi needs to tattoo another family on himself to replenish his powers
How is everyone else navigating the "want Atalanta to win, but also want to see more games of Mbappe + Neymar + etc. playing against non-croissant level competition" conundrum?
CHOUPO MOTING GREATEST SUB OF ALL TIME
CHOUPO-MOTING
Is this what they call the kitchen sink
Seems like Neymar's already working on his postmatch "This is the worst disappointment of my career" Instagram post
anyone have stats on coaches winning while wearing a boot? doesn't look promising
Is Tuchel sitting on a cooler? All that cash and they can't get the man a decent Adirondack chair or something?
PSG finally break their UCL curse with a ridiculous late comeback. It had to be a comeback
This is going to be a fun week and a half
How perfect would it have been if Atalanta scored there with PSG stupidly not running for the corner
ECM with IMMENSE Lou Williams energy. These are his wings
CHOUPO!
RIP atalanta +250 :(