Benfica: PSG will be bolstered by the return of Kylian Mbappe as the Ligue 1 champions face Atalanta in a Champions League quarterfinal clash on Wednesday. The Ligue 1 top-scorer suffered a horrific ankle injury against AS Saint-Etienne on July 24 in Coupe de France final.
There was very little chance for the 21-year-old to play anymore this season but surprisingly Mbappe is fit and likely to start from the bench. “If he has a good training session today and nothing extraordinary happens, he will be with the team tomorrow,” PSG boss, Thomas Tuchel told in the pre-match press conference.
“We are very happy that he is with the group and that we can have the possibility of finishing the match with him.” In the absence of Mbappe, Neymar is going lead the PSG attack and Tuchel is confident about the Brazilian’s ability to steer his side forward.
MATCHDAY @ChampionsLeague 🏆 #ATAPSG
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) August 12, 2020
🗓 Quarter Final
🆚 @Atalanta_BC 🇮🇹
🔴🔵 #WeAreParis pic.twitter.com/6Mbh30vvMv
On the other hand, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta has bagged 98 goals in Seria A this season. They are a high scoring side with a talented outfit and a master tactician. Tuchel is careful about them and knows that every game is like a final as there is no second leg in the remaining games in the Champions League.
Mbappe, who has scored 30 goals with 18 assists this season is going to be the trump card for Tuchel and can attack in the latter half of the game with his fierce speed. PSG will also be without veteran mid-fielder Maro Veratti due to a calf injury and didn’t travel to Lisbon with his teammates.
