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UEFA Champions League

LIVE: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REPORTS: ATALANTA 1-2 PSG

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GOAL!!!!!

90+3mins: PSG Leads!!!! Choupo-Moting scores for PSG

Atalanta 1-1 PSG

Minutes are turning into seconds now. Can PSG survive?

87mins: Draxler (PSG) misses the target.

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Chance for Draxler to shoot, but he blazes the effort over the top. Atalanta will be happy with that for the rest of the night.

86 mins: Choupo-Moting (Paris) misses the target.

After Caldara slices a cross over his own crossbar, Choupo-Moting, once of Stoke City, climbs highest to meet Draxler’s corner but heads it over.

85 mins: Atalanta fouling at will now. Palomino is booked this time.

84 mins: Hateboer (Atalanta) is penalised for a foul on Neymar (Paris).

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82 mins: Substitution: Da Riva (in)Zapata (out) (Atalanta).

81 mins

Another big chance for Mbappe!

He’s in on the left and makes his way into the box before getting a left-footed shot away.

79 mins: Substitution for PSG

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Rico (in)Navas (out)

73 mins:

Three changes for PSG, starting with an enforced one as Draxler and Paredes replace Gueye and Herrera.

Goalkeeper Navas had looked to be coming off with an injury but he’s OK to continue.

72mins: Substitutions: Draxler (in)Herrera (out) (Paris).

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Paredes (in)Gueye (out) (Paris).

70mins: Substitution: Goal scorer, Pasalic replaced

Muriel (in)Pašalić (out) (Atalanta).

62mins: Mbappé’s first contribution is a cross into the box but not for the first time this evening there aren’t too many white shirts up there in support.

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60 mins: Substitution: Palomino (in)Djimsiti (out) (Atalanta)

60 mins: Sub for PSG. Tuchel has seen enough. On comes Mbappe.

54 mins

Neymar pulls off a brilliant nutmeg before driving towards goal.

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There’s nobody making a good run, however, and the attack comes to nothing.

It’s Neymar and 10 robots at the moment.

51mins: Neymar’s driven free-kick from 30 yards takes a deflection and goes behind

50 mins: Neymar shows brilliant skill to skip past two players but Marten de Roon pulls him back.

He’s booked for his troubles.

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49 mins:  Atalanta are dominating and preparing to make substitution. Not a defensive one as expected. They appear still hungry for goals.

No changes for either side but Mbappe was warming fairly thoroughly at the break.

The second half begins.

HALF TIME

Match UPDATE AT HALF TIME

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  • Pašalić curls in opener for Atalanta
  • Neymar spurns two one-on-one chances
  • Mbappé on the bench for Paris
  • Atalanta in quarters in debut campaign
  • Winners face Leipzig/Atlético in semis

ATALANTA 1-0 PSG

45+1 mins

Remo Freuler receives the game’s second yellow card.

45 mins

There will be one minute of added time.

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42 mins

Another big miss from Neymar!

He intercepts another loose pass and drives through on the left. The keeper is out of position but the Brazilian shanks his left-footed finish high and wide.

40 mins

Close!

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Sarabia is played into loads of space on the left and makes his way towards the box before trying to find Icardi in the centre.

His low cross is good but just too far out of the Argentine’s reach!

37 mins

Berat Djimsiti picks up the game’s first yellow for a foul on Icardi.

32 mins

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All PSG’s good attacking play has come through Neymar down the left so far but he’s getting little support.

If only a certain Kylian Mbappe was fit.

30 mins:Atalanta are unbeaten in all 16 matches in which Mario Pasalic has scored (W14 D2)…

UPSET!!!  ATALANTA SCORES!

GOAL! Atalanta 1-0 PSG (Pasalic 26)

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Match Update

Atalanta 1-0 PSG

20mins: Match Update

Atalanta 0-0 PSG

  • Neymar spurns early one on one
  • Navas keeps out Hateboer header
  • Mbappé on the bench for Paris
  • Atalanta in quarters in debut campaign
  • Winners face Leipzig/Atlético in semis

15 mins: Atalanta now piling up the chances – they have to take them, though!

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5 mins: What a miss from Neymar!

He pounces on a loose ball and runs through on goal before proceeding to slice his effort horribly wide.

Mbappe has his head in his hands in the stands.

KICK-OFF

After a minute’s silence in memory of those who have lost their lives to Covid-19, we’re underway

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TEAM LISTS

Atalanta: Sportiello, Toloi, Caldara, Djimsiti, Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens, Papu Gómez, Pasalic, Zapata.

PSG: Keylor Navas, Kehrer, Thiago Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Ander Herrera, Marquinhos, Gueye, Neymar, Icardi, Sarabia.

Subs: Rico, Bulka, Mbappe, Paredes, Choupo-Moting, Diallo, Draxler, Bakker, Kalimuendo-Muinga, Dagba, Ruiz-Atil, Mbe Soh

The first ever-mini tournament version of the Champions League kicks off tonight in Lisbon. Ligue 1 side, PSG takes on Serie A team, Atalanta in the first of the four quarter final matches.

PSG will be hoping to continue their European journey after doing one better than last season and progressing pass the round of 16.

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Atalanta will be likely without key forward Josip Ilicic due to personal reasons, which will leave the scoring duties to Duvan Zupata and Luis Muriel as they look to continue their fine season.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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UEFA Champions League

David strikes as Lille end Real’s long unbeaten run

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Champions League - Lille v Real Madrid - Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France - October 2, 2024 Lille's Jonathan David scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

A first-half penalty earned Lille a shock 1-0 home victory over holders Real Madrid in the Champions League group phase on Wednesday, ending the 15-times European Cup winners’ 14-game unbeaten run in the competition.

Jonathan David converted from the spot three minutes into first-half stoppage time to hand Real, who had not lost in their previous 36 matches in all competitions, their first defeat since January.

The result put Ligue 1 side Lille on three points from two games in the new format of Europe’s premier club competition.

Real, who won their opening match against VfB Stuttgart, are also on three points.

“On the penalty, I try to focus, to keep calm to take a good shot but I’m confident when it comes to taking penalties,” David said. “It has not sunk in yet but it’s a memorable night.”

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Real keeper Andriy Lunin said his team had lacked their usual aggression.

“It’s difficult to analyse right after. (We lacked) aggression, creativity, in the end, what we always have,” he said.

“To fight a bit more. In the second half we showed more desire, but in the first half we were worse, that’s obvious. We want to win because we know what colours we’re playing in. But that’s OK. Courage, keep working and prepare for the next game.”

Carlo Ancelotti’s side started with Kylian Mbappe, who joined from Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain in June, on the bench after the France captain picked up a muscle injury last week.

Real’s Vinicius Jr. had the first chance with a low shot in the sixth minute as the visitors controlled the pace and the second came when Endrick’s close-range attempt was blocked by Lucas Chevalier.

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Lille went close to opening the scoring after 26 minutes when Andriy Lunin made a spectacular double save to deny David, first from the forward’s header, then by tipping away the Canadian’s follow-up shot.

Their relentless pressure paid off in stoppage time when Eduardo Camavinga handled Edon Zhegrova’s free kick.

A VAR review ensued and David confidently converted the resulting penalty.

The hosts continued to apply pressure in the second half, refusing to sit back and wait as Real enjoyed possession, cutting off the supply to England midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Ancelotti sent Mbappe and Luka Modric on to replace Endrick and Eder Militao and Lille survived a late Real onslaught to hang on for the victory.

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-Reuters

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UEFA Champions League

Ancelotti makes no excuses after Real’s shock defeat at Lille

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Champions League - Lille v Real Madrid - Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France - October 2, 2024 Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti before the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Defending champions Real Madrid failed to show the best version of themselves in a shock 1-0 Champions League defeat at Lille on Wednesday and must accept the criticism that comes their way, manager Carlo Ancelotti said.

Lille pressed relentlessly and took the win courtesy of a Jonathan David penalty in first-half stoppage time to hand Ancelotti’s team their first defeat in all competitions since January.

Real Madrid – record 15-times Champions League winners – have three points after two matches following their opening win over VfB Stuttgart.

“Everything was pretty bad. We did badly with the ball, although the team was quite compact in the first half, it was difficult for us to recover the ball, it was difficult for us to make transitions,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“We tried to be a little more aggressive, but it was difficult for us. So… We have to look at things with a cool head, not throw everything away. But obviously we have to improve.

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“I am very sincere. The criticism for today’s game is fair, correct and we have to accept it because it is like that. We have not shown a good version in this game.”

Ancelotti said Lille “deserved” to win despite Real’s improved showing in the second half of the match.

“It was difficult for us to get into the game at the level of intensity, at the level of duels, at the level of clarity of play,” the Italian added.

“Obviously, the game could have been tied because we had opportunities at the end, but it wasn’t deserved.

“So we have to learn, as it happened the last time we lost a game, learn from what we have to improve, which is quite clear. I think it’s not very complicated.”

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Real, who are second in the LaLiga standings with 18 points, next host third-placed Villarreal on Saturday.

-Reuters

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UEFA Champions League

Lookman shines as Atalanta outclass Shakhtar

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Champions League - Shakhtar Donetsk v Atalanta - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - October 2, 2024 Atalanta's Ademola Lookman in action with Shakhtar Donetsk's Alaa Ghram REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

Ademola Lookman scored one goal and was heavily involved in the other two to drive Atalanta to a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday as the Italians outclassed their Ukrainian opponents in Gelsenkirchen.

Atalanta have four points from two games, having held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw in their opening match, and Shakhtar remained on one point, after they played out a scoreless draw in the first game against Italian side Bologna.

Atalanta went ahead in the 21st minute when Lookman curled a cross into the area which found Berat Djimsiti in front of goal and he controlled the ball before poking it past the keeper.

Atalanta doubled the lead a minute before the break when Sead Kolasinac squared a pass to Lookman in the middle of the area and the Nigerian struck a first-time shot through the legs of his marker Marlon Gomes into the bottom corner of the net.

The game was all but over as a contest three minutes into the second half after Lookman played the ball out wide to Davide Zappacosta and his cross into the six-yard box was headed home by Raoul Bellanova.

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At 3-0, Lookman, who also hit the crossbar in the first half, was taken off with over half an hour to play, his work done for the night and the tie ended with the same scoreline as the last time the sides met in the Champions League in 2019.

-Reuters

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