Atalanta has qualified for the quarter-finals of the Europa League. The team of coach Gian Piero Gasperini won 2-1 against Sporting Portugal with some difficulty. Pedro Gonçalves ensured an excellent start for Sporting, who, however, had to accept crucial goals from Ademola Lookman and Gianluca Scamacca after the break: 2-1. After the 2-2 draw in Portugal, that was just enough for Atalanta to convert further.

On the Atalanta side, two Dutchmen kicked off: Mitchel Bakker and Marten de Roon. Teun Koopmeiners started on the bench, just like Hans Hateboer. Jeremiah st. Juste was one of Sporting's three central defenders.

After a fairly boring opening phase, Atalanta came dangerously in front of Sporting's goal via a sharp cross from Aleksey Miranchuk. The Russian put the ball at the far post, where it reached Sead Kolasinac. The defender's header hit the top of the crossbar. Atalanta remained the dominant party, although it was unable to reward itself in the unexciting match.

After more than half an hour of play, Sporting suddenly took the lead. Pedro Gonçalves entered into a one-two match with Viktor Gyökeres and finished from close range: 0-1. A setback for Sporting was the retirement of goldcrest Gyökeres two minutes later. The Swede had to be replaced by Daniel Bragança.

On the stroke of half-time, Atalanta came close to the equalizer twice. First of all, Sporting goalie Franco Israel saved Emil Holm's shot through the middle, after which Gianluca Scamacca also had to acknowledge his superiority over the Portuguese goalie. Israel barely tapped the ball from under the crossbar.

Shortly after the break, Atalanta scored. A cross from Ederson's right went to the far post, where Lookman, partly thanks to a miss from St. Juste, was able to tap in from close range: 1-1. It turned out to be the necessary recipe for Atalanta. Not long after the opening goal, Miranchuk deftly passed to Scamacca, who scored from close range to make it 2-1.

Sporting was very close to the equalizer twice just before the end. First of all, Paulinho worked the ball onto the canvas of the goal and in the ninety minute it was Paulinho again who missed a great opportunity. This time he headed narrowly wide and so the European adventure is over for Sporting. Sporting's defeat suits the Netherlands well given the battle for sixth place in the coefficient rankings.

More sports news