Champions, Atalanta is in the playoffs. Poker against Sturm Graz

The Nerazzurri can still achieve their goal of finishing in the top eight, which would allow them to fly directly to the last 16: they need to beat Barcelona next week

di FABRIZIO CARCANO
21 January 2025
Ademola Lookman celebrates the goal of the temporary 4-0

Ademola Lookman celebrates the goal of the temporary 4-0

Bergamo, 21 January 2025 – Atalanta passes the Champions League round, reaching another of the objectives of the beginning of the season. With one round to spare, the Goddess, thanks to the resounding home success for 5-0 over Austrians Sturm Graz, rises to 14 points and secures a place in the playoffs, the play-offs in February.

But the Nerazzurri, with a goal difference of 18 goals scored and just 4 conceded (three of which in the same match against Real Madrid) can still hope to secure a place in the top eight who will skip the playoffs and fly straight to the round of 16 in March: to do so a big win would be needed in a week's time at the home of the battleship Barcelona.

Attack by phenomena

Difficult of course, but not impossible for this Goddess who in the meantime flies thanks to her supersonic attack and protagonist in the 'manita' at Sturm with the goals of Retegui, which has risen to 17 seasonal goals, The Ketelaere e Lookman, respectively at 11 and 13, also authors of two assists. And the scoring chorus was joined by Pasalic, a Champions League goal specialist, and Brescianini, at the first European goal, at the fifth of the season.

Lots of stuff, for a very solid Atalanta at the back: only one goal conceded in Bern by Young Boys, in the easy 6-1 win over the Swiss in November, then the three goals conceded in the 2-3 home win in December against Real Madrid, for the rest five games against Arsenal, Shakhtar, Celtic, Stuttgart and Sturm keeping a clean sheet.

Goddess is already a sure thing for the playoffs and in a week will try to achieve a historic feat in Barcelona for the first eight places.

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