Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s 92nd-minute strike secured a truly remarkable comeback as Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to beat Atalanta 2-1 and reach the Champions League semi-finals.
Thomas Tuchel’s side looked set for another agonising quarter-final exit after Mario Pasalic’s 27th-minute strike gave Atalanta a deserved half-time lead at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
It appeared they had done enough to secure a famous victory, but Marquinhos levelled matters as the game entered stoppage time before former Stoke City forward Choupo-Moting completed the turnaround with a breathless finish as PSG snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The Ligue 1 champions will face either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Jose Alvalade for a place in the final in 11 days’ time.
How unlikely match-winner rescued PSG
There were emotional scenes at the final whistle as the Atalanta players slumped to the ground – they were minutes away from a place in the semi-final only to be undone by two late goals.
La Dea scored 98 goals in Serie A last season, including seven against three different opponents, and they created their first chance after just three minutes when Duvan Zapata threaded a pass into the path of Alejandro Gomez but his shot was saved low down by Keylor Navas.
Tuchel’s side had gone for much of the past five months without competitive action, aside from their victories in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, and their lack of match sharpness showed moments later as Neymar was set clean through on goal but the Brazilian fluffed his shot well wide.
PSG’s mental issues with the Champions League quarter-finals are well-documented, and that miss seemed to play on the minds of the Parisians as Gian Piero Gasperini’s men nearly went in front when Hans Hateboer met Gomez’s cross to force Navas into a fine one-handed save after 12 minutes.
The Ligue 1 champions certainly would not have faced a side with the same aggression and unique system of Atalanta, and their level of unpredictability was on show as Pasalic duly steered them in front. The ball broke free to the Croatian after a challenge by Zapata on Presnel Kimpembe, and the former Chelsea midfielder curled his shot confidently beyond Navas.
Neymar showed glimmers of brilliance but then moments of ineptitude as he missed another glorious chance to level before the break as he latched onto Hateboer’s poor backpass but horribly sliced his effort high and wide.
Tuchel, who sat on a cooler for much of the match sporting a protective boot, leapt from his seat and used his crutches to march swiftly down the tunnel at half-time knowing his side would need a vast improvement upon the restart.
But there were few signs of an equaliser for large parts of the second period as Atalanta nearly doubled their lead when Remo Freuler’s cross was flicked on by Pasalic for Xhimshiti to slice his effort wide.
Kylian Mbappe made an instant impact upon his introduction on the hour-mark as he took Leandro Paredes’ pass to force a smart save by Marco Sportiello.
Gasperini’s back three was increasingly becoming a back five as Tuchel looked to Choupo-Moting with 10 minutes remaining at the same time that his goalkeeper Navas was forced off with an injury and replaced by Sergio Rico.
PSG looked like they had run out of ideas but as the fourth official indicated five additional minutes, it was the former Stoke forward whose cross found Neymar onside at the far post, and his brilliant control and cutback allowed Marquinhos to stab home via a deflection off Mattia Caldara.
Atalanta were out on their feet and with Remo Freuler a virtual passenger due to an earlier injury, PSG made the extra man count as Neymar found Mbappe on the overlap down the left to allow Choupo-Moting to complete the most unlikely of comebacks.
What’s next?
PSG advance to face either RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Semi-finals
Manchester City or Lyon vs Barcelona or Bayern Munich (August 19, Estadio da Luz)
RB Leipzig or Atletico Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain (August 18, Estadio Jose Alvalade)
Final
Sunday August 23 (Estadio da Luz)
For a full assessment of the Champions League state of play read more here.
read the full story about PSG stage stunning late comeback to reach CL semis
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