Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain comfortably defeated Atalanta Bergamo 4-0 on Matchday 1. Despite the absences of Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, the Parisians showed they have lost none of their collective spirit and efficiency.

It's true, the opponent who stepped forward this Wednesday, September 17th to challenge PSG at the Parc des Princes didn't have a pedigree to keep the Parisian supporter awake at night. Atalanta may have won the Europa League in 2024, but the most daring bettors would have hesitated to bet on the Italian team. Especially when they arrive in Paris without my best player, Ademola Lookman , who scored three goals in the Europa League final won against Leverkusen.

Despite everything, we certainly did not expect to see a PSG so ready, so efficient, returning to its good old habits of last spring at a time when it must turn the first page of its beautiful summer.

Barcola misses penalty

PSG has retained everything from the manual that led to their first title four months ago. This voracious football, this stifling pressure, these incessant attacks, this perpetual movement of players that makes the opponent dizzy. Atalanta found themselves stunned in the 3rd minute by a pressure from Marquinhos, who would find themselves at the end a few seconds later by inheriting a cross from Fabian Ruiz. Nuno Mendez (5th), Bradley Barcola (8th) and Hakimi (10th), hitting the post, then missed the break against a completely disoriented team.

The Italians had a moment to breathe and venture into the Parisian penalty area, only to come up against an intractable defense. Barcola thought he could score the second goal, but was flagged offside (22nd). It was Kvaratskhelia who single-handedly made it two goals for Paris after an individual move that ended with a sudden strike that left Carnesecchi with no chance (39th). Easy! Too easy for Barcola, who missed a penalty just before halftime.

Mayulu center forward

The second half began much like the first. Despite their lead, PSG continued to stifle Bergamo, and Nuno Mendes scored Paris's third goal in a move that was typical of him: full of controlled power (51st minute).

Without Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé and replaced in their center forward positions by the young (19 years old) midfielder Seyni Mayulu, Paris shows that it will have to be very strong to take the trophy from them.

Especially if the discreet Gonzalo Ramos remains effective by coming off the bench to score the fourth goal (90+1)

The second day, on October 1st, with the trip to Spain to FC Barcelona, truly promises to be the first big test for the Parisians.

Schedule and results of the first day (Time in TU)

Tuesday, September 16

PSV Eindhoven- Union Saint-Gilloise   1-3

Athletic Bilbao- Arsenal   0-2

Real Madrid - Marseille 2-1

Juventus Turin-Borussia Dortmund 4-4

Tottenham - Villarreal 1-0

Benfica- Qarabag 2-3

Wednesday, September 17

Slavia Prague-Bodo/Glimt 2-2

Olympiakos-Paphos 0-0

Paris SG-Atalanta Bergamo 4-0

Liverpool -Atlético Madrid 3-2

Bayern Munich - Chelsea 3-1

Ajax Amsterdam- Inter Milan 0-2

Thursday, September 18

4:45 p.m.: Club Bruges-Monaco

4:45 p.m.: Copenhagen-Bayer Leverkusen

7 p.m.: Newcastle-Barcelona

7 p.m.: Manchester City-Naples

7 p.m.: Eintracht Frankfurt-Galatasaray

7 p.m.: Sporting Portugal-Kairat Almaty