Since it was revealed that Paris Saint-Germain would face Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, plenty of people have chimed in with their thoughts on the matchup.
Since Friday’s draw, pundits, football fans, and coaches have shared their opinion on why PSG shouldn’t overlook Atalanta and now, a former player with ties to both teams is sharing his thoughts about who will advance.
Boukary Dramé spent two seasons (2005-2007) with Les Parisiens and then the 34-year-old went on to spend four years (2014-2018) with Atalanta.
In an interview with Tutto Mercato Web, Dramé admitted that the capital club has the more talented squad. However, he does add that the Atalanta squad won’t back down from the challenge.
“We all know PSG, it has the strongest players in the world, and their goal is to win the Champions League,” Dramé said.
“But this Atalanta can face any team because the players are not afraid, and above all, they are confident. You can see it in the eyes of the players when they are on the field. In my opinion, Atalanta has what it takes to beat PSG, so I say that in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, there may be a surprise.”
Dramé mentioned that La Dea is a confident group. They did nearly come away with a win on the road Juventus FC recently. Furthermore, he states that PSG’s long lay-off with only a few friendlies and two domestic cup finals over the next couple of weeks will benefit Atalanta.
“The PSG who hasn’t played for four months? In my opinion, this situation can help Atalanta,” Dramé said. “A team at this level if they train only, without playing games, can have difficulties.”
On paper, PSG should win this match. There’s no question that Atalanta will have their legs ready. If PSG comes out sluggish, they could have a problem on their hand. Nonetheless, if Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé hit the ground running, their talent could potentially carry them to the semifinals.
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