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Champions League: What do PSG, Bayern, Lyon, and RB Leipzig have in common?

By Keith Lisenbee

Bayern Munich's German forward Thomas Mueller (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on August 14, 2020. (Photo by Rafael Marchante / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RAFAEL MARCHANTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Bayern Munich's German forward Thomas Mueller (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final football match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on August 14, 2020. (Photo by Rafael Marchante / POOL / AFP) (Photo by RAFAEL MARCHANTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Kylian Mbappe (R) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar (Photo by David Ramos / POOL / AFP) (Photo by DAVID RAMOS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

The neutral fans darling club, Atalanta bowed out in the first quarter-final against a Neymar led, Paris Saint-Germain in the first quarter-final, 2-1.

In the 59th minute, with the Italian side up 1-0, Papu Gómez, the heart and soul of Atalanta’s attack left the pitch with an apparent muscle injury.

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In stoppage time, PSG knocked in two goals against a rapidly exhausted opponent who had attempted to bunker in to see the game out.

PSG was handed the Ligue One in March when the league ended. The club had 135 days off before playing again in two domestic cup matches, followed by another 11 days off before playing Atalanta.

Atalanta had played 13 matches in Italy to conclude their Serie A campaign and had just 11 days off coming into playing a deeper and much more rested club.

A somewhat similar scenario played out in the quarter-final between Athletico Madrid and RB Leipzig.

In the 88th minute, Leipzig’s Tyler Adams hit the winning goal against a Diego Simeone side that struggled to keep up with the pace of their opponent’s attacks.

Athletico only had 25 days off before the Champions League re-start and played ten matches since June 15th.

The German club owned by an energy drink company had more zip (or wings?), pace, and momentum at the end. The Bundesliga resumed and finished their season before anyone else. As a result, they played only nine matches after June 15th and had 47 days off before continuing the UCL competition.

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