This time it was Paris Saint-Germain Sergi Roberto. They were Marcus Rashford. Twenty-five years of frustration, of remontadas, of disappointments, of sadness all went into the space of three minutes in added time.
All the heartbeats the Parisians have suffered over the years, especially those nightmares against Barcelona in 2017 and Manchester United in 2019 were avenged on Wednesday in an unbelievable 2-1 victory over Atalanta in Lisbon, Portugal.
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Nobody could have written this script. No one could have predicted in their wildest dreams that Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting would be the hero who would send PSG to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 1995.
It is further a proof that Paris never does anything like anyone else. What a club! Able to dominate one of the best teams in Europe this season and yet be so close to another disappointing elimination. Able to prevent Atalanta and their incredible attack from creating almost everything after Mario Pasalic scored the first goal, and yet died after another abrupt end to their Champions League dream.
But it was now PSG’s turn to be the heartbreaker. The Italians were PSG on Wednesday night – football is sometimes so cruel. The boys from Bergamo deserve better than to lose that way; they have made their city, their region and their country proud. What’s more, they have made football proud. In the end, Atalanta just lacks some legs and fitness, a bit of experience probably as well. Yet, they will forever remain one of the great stories of an exceptional, and extraordinary, 2019-20 season.
But Wednesday night it belonged to the Parisians.
The scenes all the time showed all the emotions: PSG boss Thomas Tuchel screamed his joy so loud that they could probably have heard him all the way from Germany. There was so much at stake for the manager. A defeat, even just 1-0, could have dropped him. He would have accused him of not starting Kylian Mbappe when he was fit. He would be criticized for preferring Ander Herrera over Leandro Paredes, after the Argentine did 20 minutes more when he arrived than the Spaniard in 70’s.
However, Tuchel already got his substitutions and his game plan as well. He knew and told the players that Atalanta would breed in the second half and that it was then that PSG could put them under a lot of pressure. He knew that when his players could hit the press, they would be dangerous. However, he did not expect Neymar to be so great in general, but so outrageous for purpose. It just brought on Mbappe on the hour changed the game, but it was the Choupo-Moting for Mauro Icardi exchange that put PSG through.
There will probably never be a more likely savior at this stage of the Champions League. Choupo-Moting injured Marco Verratti in training 10 days ago. He owes his place only in the squad because Edinson Cavani refused to extend his contract in Paris to play in this quarter-final. And he only came through because Icardi was a shadow of his ordinary self.
But the international Cameroon seized this opportunity, gave it his best and was decisive for both goals. As a tribute and a big nod, Neymar, who was named the man of the match, decided to give his teammate the trophy. For the rest of the PSG squad and fans alike, everything is forgotten for Choupo-Moting: All the chances missed, all the average performances set over the past two years, all the awkward times like when he shot by Christopher Nkunku on goal stopped line against Strasbourg last season. Everything is forgiven. Forever, his name will be synonymous with one of the club’s greatest moments.
And what about Neymar exactly? He wanted to be his night on Wednesday. He wanted to be the star, the Lionel Messi of his team. He wanted, more than ever, to have a game of this great possession and offer it to PSG. He was unstoppable for 90 minutes, but not decisively. He was everywhere, pinching opponents, creating chances, making differences, was kicked round the field. He completed 16 dribbles, the best talent for a player in a single Champions League game since Messi met Barcelona against Manchester United in April 2008 – the Atalanta defenders did not know how to stop him. He needs to score one, two, maybe even three goals.
But in the 89th minute PSG were 1-0 down and Neymar was, just like Tuchel, the scapegoat for the defeat because of all those chances missed. He followed, however, and never gave up. He was eventually involved in the two goals of Paris. His little ball through for Mbappe for the winner was an absolute gem.
When Neymar arrived 90 minutes before the start of the Estadio da Luz, he was relaxed. He had done a new mohawk haircut on the day. He wore the team speaker, sunglasses on his head. Maybe he knew this was going to be his night? He will share it with Mbappe. The Frenchman’s incredibly quick recovery from an ankle injury meant he could get into this game and help his Brazilian friend advance to Paris to the semi-finals. As in 2017 with Monaco, Mbappe will have another go to reach the Champions League final. After the match on Wednesday, he tweeted in French: WE ARE PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN. This is his club, his city and he has never been more involved.
Like Neymar and Mbappe, the entire PSG squad, even the injured Verratti and the suspected Angel Di Maria, believed in the stands until the end. The unity and team spirit has been fantastic this season. They all believed that their luck would finally turn and that karma was on their side this time. The rest is history.
On the day of the club’s 50th anniversary, it was written that this Wednesday night would be different. Not many PSG players or fans will sleep a lot now – just like in 2017 and 2019, but not for the same reasons.
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