Atalanta back to winning ways: Sturm Graz swept away and Champions playoffs clinched
Atalanta back to winning ways: Sturm Graz swept away and Champions playoffs won
Atalanta is back to savor victory after five games without success between the league and the Super Cup: Gasperini’s team at the Gewiss Stadium overwhelmed Sturm Graz 5-0 at the end of an overflowing performance (two posts and two goals cancelled out), mathematically securing qualification for the Champions League playoffs.
Orobici thanks to this success are momentarily third on 14 points in the overall standings, and will play for direct qualification the round of 16 in the last match in Catalonia against Barcelona.
The Nerazzurri took the lead right away on 12' with Retegui, scoring on an assist from Zappacosta, then controlled the match with authority, coming close to doubling the score on several occasions with De Ketelaere, Zappacosta, Samardzic and Retegui.
In the second half Gasperini immediately rested Retegui, inside Lookman, but Dea did not diminish its danger, on the contrary: at 49' De Ketelaere had a goal cancelled out for offside, at 52' Cuadrado hit the post, at 58' Lookman first devoured a great chance, then hit the crossbar. The doubling è ripe and came in 59' thanks to Pasalic on Cuadrado’s cross.
At 63' De Ketelaere drops the triad on the development of a corner beaten by the Colombian former Inter and Juve and closes the game for good. The hosts were not satisfied and went close to the fourth goal with Lookman and Brescianini, and found it at'81' with Zappacosta, later cancelled out for offside by Ederson. In the minutes of recovery came the poker, Lookman realized it with a header from a cross by De Ketelaere, and even the five, signed by Brescianini after Lookman's nice personal action.
