Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe made his long-awaited return to in-game action on Wednesday during the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal win against Atalanta. Mbappe was among the most active players on the pitch over his 30 minutes of playing time; he recorded one assist, two shot attempts, and one successful dribble. After such a long layoff from playing, PSG sure must have been pleased to see the forward back in the team’s attack.
Many have credited Mbappe with being the one who changed the complexion of this Champions League match. Former Real Madrid and Juventus manager Fabio Capello is on board with this notion. He recently took some time to speak to Italy’s Sky Sport, where he singled out Mbappe for being the game-changer in the contest.
“It was seen in the changes, with a clear difference,” Capello said. “In the first part of the race Gasperini’s team held up very well, then Mbappe’s entry changed everything.”
Mbappe’s off-ball movements helped stretch Atalanta’s backline, which then opened up more space for teammates while in the final third. This surely was one aspect of play that PSG was monitoring on, and Mbappe passed the test with flying colors.
The focus for PSG now shifts to whether Mbappe will be available for next week’s Champions League semifinal duel against either Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig.
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