Atalanta’s coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, asserts that Sporting CP’s star player Viktor Gyökeres possesses attributes well-suited for Serie A, while Gianluca Scamacca perceives increased confidence within Atalanta’s ranks following a 2-2 draw against Juventus.
The impending encounter between Atalanta and Sporting CP in the Europa League Round of 16 second leg, scheduled in Bergamo on Thursday, marks the fourth meeting between these two teams this season. Notably, Atalanta remains undefeated against Sporting CP with one victory and two draws. The initial leg in Portugal culminated in a 1-1 deadlock last week.
In anticipation of the forthcoming match, Gasperini emphasized the significance of meticulous attention to detail, underscoring the pivotal nature of avoiding errors. He articulated these sentiments during a pre-match press conference, as reported by TMW. Gasperini underscored the importance of the upcoming fixture, recognizing it as potentially definitive and expressing Atalanta’s earnest desire to secure qualification, particularly buoyed by their home advantage.
Acknowledging Sporting CP’s commendable performance this season as Portuguese leaders with formidable individual talent, Gasperini delineated the significance of progressing to the quarter-finals for Atalanta, citing it as a monumental achievement and an additional source of motivation.
Gasperini hinted at the possibility of starting second-choice goalkeeper Juan Musso, opting to relegate Marco Carnesecchi to the bench. Musso’s inclusion in the starting lineup would mark his second consecutive appearance against Sporting CP.
Highlighting the prowess of Sporting CP’s striker, Gyökeres, who has amassed an impressive tally of 33 goals in 37 matches this season, Gasperini opined that Gyökeres possesses attributes conducive to thriving in Italian football. He further noted ongoing speculation linking Gyökeres to prominent clubs like Milan and Arsenal.
Despite currently trailing outside the top four in Serie A, Atalanta demonstrated their mettle by securing a draw against Juventus in Turin, a result that Gasperini views as indicative of their positive form, potentially beneficial if they were to face Juventus in the Coppa Italia Final.
Scamacca, who contributed a goal in the previous encounter against Sporting CP, echoed Gasperini’s sentiment regarding the draw against Juventus, emphasizing the quality of the opposition and its reinforcement of Atalanta’s confidence in their abilities. Anticipating the forthcoming match at home against Sporting CP, Scamacca underscored the significance of their supporters’ presence as a driving force, expressing determination to commence the match strongly with the objective of securing qualification.