The first round of the UEFA Champions League brought a special kind of anticipation, and the clash at Parc des Princes between PSG and Atalanta BC on 17 September 2025 delivered exactly that. With both sides fielding intriguing new talents, the confirmed lineups offered an early look at how this European campaign might unfold.

4 related posts

Match Date: 17 September 2025 ·
Kickoff Time: 19:00 UTC ·
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris ·
Result: PSG 4-0 Atalanta

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Donnarumma’s absence from the matchday squad
  • How Atalanta will adjust defensively in matchday 2
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Champions League Matchday 2 fixtures

Four key data points, one definitive result: the table below captures the essential details of the night at Parc des Princes.

Category Detail
Match Date 17 September 2025
Kickoff 19:00 UTC (Sky Sports match report)
Venue Parc des Princes, Paris
Competition UEFA Champions League (Round 1)
Attendance 47,151 (Sky Sports match report)
Final Score PSG 4-0 Atalanta (UEFA lineups page)
PSG Formation 4-3-3 (PSG official site)
Atalanta Formation 3-4-2-1 (PSG official site)

What are the starting lineups for PSG vs Atalanta?

Luis Enrique and Gian Piero Gasperini both named strong starting XIs for this Champions League opener. The official team sheets, published by the clubs and UEFA, confirmed the tactical setups.

PSG confirmed lineup (4-3-3)

  • GK: Lucas Chevalier
  • Defense: Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos (C), Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes
  • Midfield: João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz
  • Attack: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Senny Mayulu, Bradley Barcola

Luis Enrique opted for a familiar 4-3-3 structure, with Lucas Chevalier starting in goal. The back line featured the experience of Marquinhos and the athleticism of Hakimi and Mendes. The midfield trio of Neves, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz was tasked with controlling possession. (Source: PSG official website)

Atalanta confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1)

  • GK: Marco Carnesecchi
  • Defense: Giorgio Scalvini, Isak Hien, Berat Djimsiti
  • Midfield/Wing-backs: Raoul Bellanova, Yunus Musah, Marten de Roon, Lorenzo Bernasconi
  • Attack: Mario Pašalić, Charles De Ketelaere, Daniel Maldini

Gasperini set up in his trademark 3-4-2-1 formation. Marco Carnesecchi started in goal behind a back three of Scalvini, Hien, and Djimsiti. The attacking responsibility fell to Pašalić, De Ketelaere, and Maldini. (Source: PSG official website)

Why this matters

Atalanta’s bold selection of Maldini and De Ketelaere signals a generational shift in their attack, but defending set pieces against a side like PSG remains a critical weakness exposed by the 4-0 scoreline.

Key tactical battles

The duel between Atalanta’s fluid attacking trio and PSG’s new-look defense anchored by Marquinhos was a central narrative. PSG’s midfield trio of Neves, Vitinha, and Ruiz controlled possession, limiting Atalanta’s transition opportunities. (Source: SofaScore)

The implication for Atalanta is clear: adapting De Ketelaere and Maldini into Gasperini’s system against elite European opposition requires time, and PSG’s experience told on the night.

Who was the man of the match PSG vs Atalanta?

Performance highlights

UEFA’s official match page names the Man of the Match after the game. Historically, this award correlates strongly with goals and assists—so a PSG attacker or creator was the prime candidate given the 4-0 result. (Source: UEFA)

Statistical standout

SofaScore metrics highlighted key passers and dribblers. Kvaratskhelia and Barcola consistently troubled Atalanta’s back three, creating high xG (expected goals) opportunities. (Source: SofaScore)

Why this matters: individual brilliance often decides tight European ties, and PSG’s attacking quartet is beginning to show cohesive patterns under Luis Enrique.

How to watch PSG vs Atalanta?

Streaming options

In the US, the match was available live on Paramount+, which holds the English-language rights to the UEFA Champions League. Fans could access the game via their web platform or mobile app.

TV channels

UK viewers could watch the action on TNT Sports, while Sky Sports provided extensive pre-match and post-match coverage, including lineup analysis.

Kickoff time

The match kicked off at 19:00 UTC (21:00 CET / 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET) on 17 September 2025. (Source: Sky Sports)

The trade-off for cord-cutters: while streaming offers flexibility, dedicated sports TV packages often provide higher production reliability for live Champions League fixtures.

Lineup comparison

Two tactical systems, one clear winner on the night: how the starting XIs matched up across the pitch.

Position PSG (4-3-3) Atalanta (3-4-2-1)
Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier Marco Carnesecchi
Defense Hakimi, Marquinhos (C), Pacho, Mendes Scalvini, Hien, Djimsiti
Midfield J. Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz Bellanova, Musah, De Roon, Bernasconi
Attack Kvaratskhelia, Mayulu, Barcola Pasalic, De Ketelaere, Maldini
The catch

While PSG’s 4-0 win looks dominant, Luis Enrique will be wary of tougher tests in the knockout stages where defensive lapses are punished more severely.

Timeline

  • 17 September 2025, 17:00 UTC: Lineups confirmed and published by clubs. (PSG official site)
  • 17 September 2025, 19:00 UTC: Kickoff at Parc des Princes. (UEFA official page)
  • 17 September 2025, 20:45 UTC: Full-time. PSG 4-0 Atalanta. (UEFA lineups page)

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Match date, time, venue, and final score (4-0). (UEFA official page)
  • PSG starting XI as listed on the official team sheet. (PSG official site)
  • Atalanta starting XI as listed on the official team sheet. (PSG official site)
  • Marquinhos captained PSG. (PSG official site)

What’s unclear

  • The exact reasoning behind Gianluigi Donnarumma’s absence from the PSG matchday squad.
  • How Atalanta will adjust defensively in their next Champions League outing after conceding four.

PSG’s comprehensive 4-0 victory sends an early signal to European rivals about their title ambitions this season. For Atalanta, the harsh lesson at Parc des Princes underscores the gap in squad depth and experience at this level. For Gian Piero Gasperini, the immediate consequence is clear: tighten the defensive transitions, or risk a short European campaign.

Additional sources

youtube.com, espn.com

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Frequently asked questions

How many times have PSG and Atalanta faced each other?

They have faced each other a few times in European competitions, including a famous UEFA Champions League quarter-final in 2020 which PSG won 2-1.

Who started for PSG?

Luis Enrique started Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Mayulu, and Barcola. (PSG official site)

What formation did Atalanta use?

Atalanta deployed their characteristic 3-4-2-1 formation under Gian Piero Gasperini. (PSG official site)

Did Donnarumma play?

Gianluigi Donnarumma did not start and was not on the bench for PSG in this match. Lucas Chevalier started in goal. (PSG official site)

Where can I find real-time lineups during the match?

Real-time lineups and substitutions are available on the official UEFA website, as well as platforms like SofaScore and FotMob. (FotMob match data)

What is Atalanta’s biggest rivalry?

Atalanta’s biggest rivalry is with fellow Bergamo side AlbinoLeffe, though they also have a strong regional rivalry with Brescia.

How to watch Champions League for free?

Some broadcasters offer free trials. For example, Paramount+ in the US and Amazon Prime Video occasionally stream select matches.

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