Key Takeaways:
- PSG begin their 14th consecutive Champions League campaign tonight at home against Atalanta
- Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué have both been ruled out through injury, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kang-in Lee are fit to return
- Atalanta, now led by Ivan Jurić, won the 2024 Europa League and seek to surpass their 2020 Champions League quarter-final exit
Preview: PSG Open New Campaign with Eyes on Back-to-Back Titles
Paris Saint-Germain initiate their defence of the Champions League trophy this evening, with a demanding season awaiting as a strong contingent of English clubs aim to dethrone the French champions. PSG ended over ten years of frustration in the competition by dismantling Inter 5-0 in last May’s final, which capped a gruelling 65-match season spanning eleven months, only to culminate with defeat against Chelsea in the Club World Cup final.
Parisians embark on another European journey hoping to accomplish the rare feat of retaining the trophy. However, the squad is acutely aware of the physical toll that such a relentless schedule can inflict. A dramatically curtailed summer break has already had an impact, with key attacker Ousmane Dembélé and rising star Désiré Doué sidelined due to injuries sustained during the international break, meaning they are unavailable for tonight’s clash with Atalanta at the Parc des Princes.
Si comincia da Parigi 👊🇫🇷
Our @ChampionsLeague journey starts in Paris 📍🇫🇷#PSGAtalanta #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫🔵 pic.twitter.com/ytWrJycu5z
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) September 17, 2025
Qualification Landscape and PSG’s Recent Form
The revised Champions League format gives some leeway in the group phase, with twenty-four out of thirty-six teams qualifying for the knockouts. In fact, three defeats in eight matches did not prevent certain teams from progressing last season. Nevertheless, securing a Top 8 finish – and thereby direct passage to the Round of 16 – presents a far more substantial challenge.
Luis Enrique succinctly explained, “Five wins and one draw—that’s what you need to finish in the top eight. But our goal as a team, even now, is to win the Champions League.” Last season, PSG advanced despite a sluggish start, highlighted by their knockout of Liverpool in the Round of 16. Their eventual triumph marked the first time since 2004 that the European champion was not from England, Spain, Germany, or Italy.
Now entering their fourteenth straight appearance in the competition, PSG remain unbeaten in eleven of their past thirteen matches at the group or main phase (eight wins, three draws). Luis Enrique’s managerial record in the competition is formidable: 40 wins, 6 draws, and 16 defeats, yielding a win rate of 65%. Fresh off a brief summer respite, PSG overcame Tottenham and lifted the European Super Cup, while domestically they have made a perfect start in Ligue 1 with four victories from four.
Atalanta’s European Progress and Managerial Shift
Atalanta’s best Champions League run remains their 2020 quarter-final exit against PSG, losing 2:1 in a single-leg tie imposed by Covid-19 restrictions. The Italian side, however, continued to defy expectations, triumphing with the Europa League title in 2024. The previous season Atalanta were eliminated in the Champions League playoffs for a Round of 16 spot by Club Brugge last season, after finishing 9th in the league phase. After Christmas, their league form noticeably declined, ultimately ending third in Serie A despite leading at the winter break.
Following the season’s end, Gian Piero Gasperini concluded his nine-year tenure at the helm, with his former Genoa player Ivan Jurić – a Croatian coach with limited European experience – taking over. Jurić’s adaptation to Serie A required patience, but he celebrated his maiden victory at the third attempt with a convincing 4:1 win against Lecce on Sunday.
Injury Report and Squad News
PSG’s fitness concerns have mounted in recent weeks, with Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué suffering injuries during the international break, and Lucas Beraldo also ruled out. However, Luis Enrique received a double boost before the Atalanta fixture. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was forced off during the recent Ligue 1 victory over Lens, has been declared fully fit. Additionally, South Korean international Kang-in Lee is available after recovering from an ankle injury.
