PSG vs Atalanta Prediction for 18 September 2025 - Football

🔈 How will the teams fare in the kickoff of the new European campaign? In the opening round of the Champions League, PSG and Atalanta clash in the French capital. Both clubs remain unbeaten this season and aim to extend their successful run. Let's note the bookmakers' early predictions: a win for PSG is at 1.46, while Atalanta's victory stands at 6.40.

Head-to-Head

📊 The teams have faced each other only once in history. This encounter took place during the quarter-finals of the 2019/20 Champions League, where the Parisians managed to overturn the tie and secure a comeback victory in the final minutes (2-1).

Paris Saint-Germain Team Overview

🔴 Last season, the "red and blues" finally achieved their goal by clinching the long-awaited Champions League trophy. Moreover, this past summer, the Parisians managed to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final and triumphed in the UEFA Super Cup. The arrival of Luis Enrique at the club has completely transformed the status of the French side on the continental stage, becoming a key factor in building one of Europe's most talented teams. Now, PSG's task is clear: not to falter in the opening round of the Champions League.

🔵 PSG have started the new season on a high note with four wins out of four in the domestic league. Currently, the "red and blues" are the undisputed leaders of Ligue 1, boasting 12 points. It's worth noting that the French club's success in last year's Champions League was truly historic—PSG lifted the continent's most prestigious trophy for the first time in their history. The same can be said for their UEFA Super Cup title, which they secured against Tottenham (3-2 after a penalty shootout).

Atalanta Team Overview

🔵 Atalanta's previous European campaign was a mixed bag. Despite securing a respectable 9th place in the league stage, they bowed out of the tournament at the Round of 32, losing in a two-legged clash against Belgian side Club Brugge (1-2, 1-3). Heading into the current season, significant changes have taken place—Ivan Jurić has taken the helm in Bergamo, succeeding the truly legendary Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta.

📌 As the new season kicks off, Atalanta remain unbeaten with two draws and one win. Interestingly, in last season's Champions League, they were exceptional on the road, collecting 10 points from four away games—the best result in the league stage. With Ivan Jurić's arrival, Atalanta's tactical approach hasn't seen major shifts. The Italian club continues to employ a formation with three central defenders, aiming to maximize their positional play.

Latest news

Paris Saint-Germain

🎤 Over the weekend, PSG triumphed in their clash with Lens, securing a 2-0 victory. In his post-match interview, Luis Enrique highlighted: “The match was special primarily because it followed the international break. We know how challenging these games can be, but we seized the opportunity to dedicate this win to Presko (Presnel Kimpembe), who has been an incredible player for the club in the eyes of both the fans and his teammates. We are satisfied. I believe we deserved the win, although it was a tough match. We had to make substitutions due to player injuries, and initially, it was difficult. We can do what we want, but we must adapt to what happens on the pitch.”

❌ In PSG's injury list are Lucas Beraldo (ankle injury), Ousmane Dembele (hip injury), and Désiré Doué (calf injury). Lee Kang-in’s participation in the match remains doubtful due to a knee injury.

Atalanta

📰 The future of Ademola Lookman remains uncertain. The Nigerian midfielder was linked with several European giants during the last transfer window, but nothing concrete materialized. Currently, the 27-year-old winger has been sidelined from the Italian squad, and he still intends to move on from Bergamo, hoping for a transfer soon.

🎤 Ahead of the clash with PSG, Ivan Jurić spoke to the media: "It will be a great joy for us to play against the best team in the world. I believe we can succeed and must be flawless. They are not in their best form, and we need to be impeccable. We've started analyzing their game and are confident in ourselves. As for Lookman, I don't think we'll see him. The situation isn't ideal, and it's unfortunate. He has given a lot to Atalanta, but Atalanta has given him even more. We need committed players who want to defend the club's honor. We'll see what happens next."

❌ In Atalanta's injury list, Mitchel Bakker (knee injury) and Sead Kolašinac (knee injury) remain out. A minor issue for Gianluca Scamacca also casts doubt on his participation in the upcoming European fixture.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The upcoming clash will see Swiss referee Sandro Schärer in charge. On average, Schärer calls 25 fouls per match and hands out 4.42 yellow cards. Additionally, he awards a penalty in 32% of his games. Both clubs have started the season with commendable discipline, with PSG averaging 1.3 cautions and Atalanta 2. We doubt that either team will resort to excessive roughness in their Champions League opener. Our pick is under 3.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goal Prediction

Both teams have been prolific at the start of the new season: PSG scores 2.4 goals per game, while Atalanta nets 2 per match. Both the Parisians and the Bergamaschi capitalize on their strengths in fast positional play. Notably, Atalanta's last 6 out of 8 games have seen at least 3 goals scored. We opt for over 2.5 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

In 7 of PSG's last 9 matches, there have been no more than 10 corner kicks. A similar pattern holds for 6 of Atalanta's last 7 games. Both clubs are noted for their midfield balance and often aim to break down defenses through the center rather than launching quick flank attacks, which leaves fewer open spaces behind. The editorial choice is under 10.5 total corners.

We can certainly expect an exciting and lively match, where both teams are likely to showcase their strengths. Our editorial team advises against underestimating the visitors—Atalanta know how to effectively challenge Europe's top clubs. A more reasonable prediction would be to anticipate a high-scoring encounter, supported by current trends and early-season statistics. A final score of 2-2 seems quite plausible, with the key bet being on over 2.5 goals.