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The Champions League is back in action tomorrow as Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain travel to Lisbon to participate in a tactically intriguing fixture that will set a massive precedent for the rest of the tournament. This fixture is the first in a series of one-legged Champions League ties that will determine the best European club this season.
Paris Saint-Germain's primary objective for the past few seasons has been to win the Champions League and the French giants have failed to get close to their holy grail in the past. Thomas Tuchel's side received a slightly favourable draw in the Champions League and will be thoroughly disappointed if it fails to reach the final.
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Atalanta will present Paris Saint-Germain with a tough test
Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta outfit is arguably one of the most exciting football teams in the world at the moment. The Italian shape-shifters play without a predefined formation and have shown a propensity towards tearing the opposition apart with their unique sense of movement and playing style.
While Paris Saint-Germain has tremendous individual talent all over the pitch, the French club's think tank will have to contend with Atalanta's fluidity and devise a plan that can negate the attacking threat presented by the Italians. Atalanta has its fair share of brilliant individuals and the stage has been set for a series of mouthwatering battles across the pitch.
#5 Mauro Icardi vs Jose Luis Palomino
In Mauro Icardi, Paris Saint-Germain has one of the most efficient strikers in the world at its disposal. The Argentine hitman possesses the ability to score a goal out of thin air and Atalanta centre-back Jose Luis Palomino will certainly have his hands full tomorrow.
The presence of Neymar in the Paris Saint-Germain lineup has served as a blessing for Icardi in the recent past. The sheer magnitude of Neymar's reputation affords Mauro Icardi plenty of space to exploit and Palomino will have to be at his best to keep the opportunistic Argentine striker quiet.
Atalanta is not particularly known for its defensive record and will try to outscore Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow. While Palomino may not be able to match Icardi yard for yard, he will have to limit the damage caused by the French champions' front-line if Atalanta is to stand a chance of winning the game.
#4 Thiago Silva vs Duvan Zapata
The opposite end of the pitch is set to witness a vintage clash between a no-nonsense defender and a powerful striker. Thiago Silva is the most experienced player in Paris Saint-Germain's lineup and is more than capable of handling the pressures of the Champions League. The seasoned Brazilian is a highly dependable presence and is the leader of Paris Saint-Germain's defence.
His opponent on the day is one of Serie A's most prolific strikers. Duvan Zapata has found himself at the end of most of Atalanta's sweeping attacking moves this season and has been highly efficient in the final third. The Colombian forward has scored 18 goals in the Serie A this season and his sheer presence in the penalty area allows Atalanta to wreak havoc.
Atalanta is exceptionally good at creating chances throughout the game and Duvan Zapata will have to win his individual battle with the formidable Thiago Silva to get his goals against Paris Saint-Germain tomorrow.
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#3 Leandro Paredes vs Marten de Roon
With Marco Verratti unavailable for this fixture, the role of the anchor in Paris Saint-Germain's midfield falls to Leandro Paredes. The Argentine midfielder possesses creativity and tenacity in equal measure and is also a formidable goalscorer. Paredes will serve as the link between the midfield and the attack for Paris Saint-Germain and is one of his side's most crucial players.
Atalanta's Marten de Roon will stand in the Argentine's path more often than not and the clash between the two is likely to have a massive impact on the game. De Roon is Atalanta's most defensively astute midfielder and his ball-winning capabilities will provide Leandro Paredes with a particularly difficult test.
While neither player is a prolific goalscorer, both Paredes and De Roon initiate attacks for their respective sides and have important roles to play on the pitch. Marten de Roon is arguably the unsung hero of this Atalanta side and will play a crucial role against an attack-heavy Paris Saint-Germain.
#2 Neymar vs Hans Hateboer
There is no doubt that all eyes will be on Neymar as Paris Saint-Germain faces Atalanta tomorrow. The Brazilian is yet to win the Champions League with the French club and the patience of both the player and the club is wearing.
Neymar's sheer talent, however, is unquestionable. The Brazilian winger is capable of mind-boggling displays of skill on the pitch and can change the complexion of the game in one fell swoop. In the absence of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar is the only player on the pitch that can take Atalanta to the cleaners on his own and it will be up to one of Atalanta's breakthrough players of the season to stop him.
Hans Hateboer is one of the most reliable right-backs in Italy and his ability to make timely runs into the final third has given Atalanta plenty of joy in the Serie A. Against Paris Saint-Germain, however, Hateboer may have to curb his attacking instincts to account for Neymar's electric pace and trickery. Neymar is a proven match-winner and will be Paris Saint-Germain's most important player on the pitch tomorrow.
#1 Thomas Tuchel vs Gian Piero Gasperini
Gian Piero Gasperini is one of the most revolutionary coaches in world football at the moment. The Italian manager stunned Valencia with his tactical nous in the round-of-16 fixtures of the Champions League has won by an astounding 8-4 aggregate margin.
Gasperini generally uses a 3-4-3 system that dissolves into a methodically chaotic blend of tactical genius and creative efficacy when Atalanta move into the final third. The Bergamese outfit has scored an astonishing 98 goals in the Serie A this season using Gasperini's system and is unlikely to stray from its philosophy against Paris Saint-Germain.
Gasperini's adventurous nature does give his side a few weaknesses. Atalanta does not have a good defensive record and while its philosophy of all-out attack may be thoroughly entertaining, it may backfire against Thomas Tuchel's Paris Saint-Germain side.
Tuchel is one of the most shrewd managers around and will have a specific plan in place to nullify Gasperini's attacking outlets. The German manager has two massive weapons in Neymar and Mauro Icardi and is likely to use the full force of his side's attacking power against an Atalanta side that is particularly prone to pacy counter-attacks.
