PSG vs Atalanta predictions and betting tips – Holders begin title defence

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Paris Saint-Germain swept all before them in the Champions League last season, lifting the trophy for the first time in the club’s history. Now they are ready to begin the defence of their crown.Atalanta are the visitors to the Parc des Princes on matchday one. The Italian outfit are under new management, but they could still cause PSG one or two problems on Wednesday.PSG -1.5 Asian handicap – 11/10 with BetMGMPSG to score in both halves – Evens with ToteRamos as anytime scorer – 12/5 with MidnitePSG vs Atalanta oddsFind the latest PSG vs Atalanta betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change. Stay in-play between matches with bet365’s live casino! PSG vs Atalanta predictionsIt is not easy to retain the Champions League. In fact, since Europe’s premier tournament was rebranded in 1992, only one team has ever lifted the trophy in consecutive seasons: Real Madrid, who triumphed three years on the bounce in 2016. 2017 and 2018.Others have come close. AC Milan were winners in 1994 and runners-up in 1995. Juventus followed the same pattern in 1996 and 1997 while also falling short in another final in 1998.More recently, Barcelona were champions in 2009 and 2011, but not in 2010 or 2012. Even Madrid could not quite manage it in Carlo Ancelotti’s second spell as manager. They were kings of the continent in 2022 and 2024, but they fell short in 2023.In one sense, then, the odds are against Paris Saint-Germain as they bid to keep hold of their crown this season.Luis Enrique’s team were superb in the Champions League last season – or, more accurately, in the second half of the competition.After six rounds of league phase fixtures, PSG were 25th in the 36-team standings. Given only 24 teams went through to the next round, the Parisians were in danger of an embarrassing early exit. Then things clicked. PSG beat Manchester City (4-2) on matchday seven and Stuttgart (4-1) on matchday eight to secure a 15th-place finish. From that point on they were unstoppable, and their 5-0 thrashing of Inter in the final was one of the most impressive performances in the history of the Champions League.Although very few teams successfully defend their European gong, PSG are among the favourites to triumph this season.Gianluigi Donnarumma has been sold to Manchester City, with Lucas Chevalier chosen as his replacement, while PSG recruited Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth. Overall it was a low-key summer at the Parc des Princes, with Luis Enrique opting to keep faith with the group that dazzled in the final few months of 2025/26.PSG have won four games out of four at the beginning of the Ligue 1 campaign, but we cannot read too much into their results back home. The real test is the Champions League, starting with the visit of Atalanta on Wednesday.PSG vs Atalanta betting tips. 18+ GambleAware.org – Please play responsibly.PSG vs Atalanta betting tipsPSG and Atalanta lock horns on matchday one of the 2025/26 Champions League season.PSG should have too muchPSG will not be at full strength on matchday one. Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue are all sidelined, which means PSG will arguably be without their best front three.Fabian Ruiz is expected to be fit enough to start, but Lucas Beraldo and Lee Kang-in are also on the treatment table.Despite that, PSG should still have too much quality for an Atalanta side that is still getting used to life after Gian Piero Gasperini.Gasperini departed the club in the summer after nine fantastic years at the helm, and his successor Ivan Juric is still finding his feet.With the Parc des Princes crowd behind them, PSG can win this one by two clear goals. Go for PSG -1.5 Asian handicap at 11/10 with BetMGM PSG can strike either side of intervalThere is no doubt that PSG are a diminished attacking force without Dembele, Doue and Kvaratskhelia.Yet that means you can find terrific value in some of the goalscoring markets, not least by backing PSG to find the net in both halves.Luis Enrique still has some top-class forwards to call upon. Goncalo Ramos will be flanked by Ibrahim Mbaye and Bradley Barcola, while the marauding full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes offer thrust from deeper.Atalanta beat Lecce 4-1 at the weekend, but this will clearly be a much stiffer examination of their credentials.Juric’s charges have conceded in each of their three Serie A outings up to now, so PSG should have some joy going forward. Tip PSG to score in both halves at evens with Tote Ramos has chance to stake claimDespite being PSG’s senior striker, Ramos was a bit-part player at best last season.Luis Enrique decided to redeploy Dembele up front, a decision which paid dividends as the Frenchman produced the best campaign of his career to date.With Dembele currently injured, Ramos has the chance to stake his claim for a more regular role in 2025/26.The Portugal international will be instructed to stay in and around the penalty area by his manager, and Atalanta’s centre-backs will have their hands full in trying to keep him quiet.Ramos still has something to prove in Paris, but he scored 19 goals last term and was also on target in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur. Back Goncalo Ramos to score any time at 12/5 with Midnite PSG vs Atalanta predicted lineupsPSG expected lineup: Chevalier; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Mbaye, Ramos, Barcola.Atalanta expected lineup: Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Djimsiti; Bellanova, De Roon, Pasalic, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Maldini; Krstovic. Where to watch PSG vs AtalantaLocation: Parc des Princes, Paris, France.Date and time: Wednesday 17th September, 8pm.How to watch: TNT Sports 3.More football predictionsOur site offers more Premier League predictions and match previews. You can find them at our match preview center, which has plenty of betting tips from our experienced writers.About the authorDean EtheridgeDean Etheridge is an experienced freelance sports betting writer who specialises in football, cricket, and darts, with a keen focus on the Premier League and Champions League, as well as in-depth coverage of Premier League Darts and major tournaments. He can turn his hand to all aspects of the beautiful game and beyond, delivering expert analysis across a range of sports. He predominantly covers the Premier League and Champions League but can turn his hand to all aspects of the beautiful game. You can follow Dean on LinkedIn (@deanetheridge)Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. 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