Champions League, Atalanta overflowing: Shakhtar overwhelmed 3-0

Gelsenkirchen (Germany), 2 October 2024 – The Champions League air regenerates Atalanta overwhelms Shakhtar Donetsk with a clear 3-0 and finds the path to success again (the first European championship of this season) after the defeat against Como and the draw with Bologna in the league. Absolute domination of Giampiero Gasperini's men who have employed just 21 minutes to unlock the result thanks to Djimsiti's flash in front of goal. A balsamic goal for the Nerazzurri, who immediately let loose the reins creating a significant amount of goal-scoring opportunities and doubling their lead just moments before half-time thanks to Lookman's goal, who redeemed themselves after hitting the crossbar halfway through the half. At the start of the second half, Shakhtar's only real surge of pride, who almost scored with the new arrival Konoplia. An impromptu flash, which wasn't enough to scare the Nerazzurri who scored the final hat-trick in the 48th minute with Bellanova's first Champions League goal and subsequently they limited themselves to managing, still arriving not far from the poker on several occasions.

First half

It only takes a few minutes for the Nerazzurri to find the right keys to elude the initial pressure of the Ukrainian team: aggressiveness on preventives and fluidity in dribbling during the build-up phase allow Giampiero Gasperini's men to quickly gain the upper hand, who already in the 11th minute are seen near Ryznik with an out-of-measure diagonal. The Nerazzurri's play, however, gradually grows, in step with the danger: Atalanta's efforts were rewarded in the 21st minute when Lookman, one of the most active of his team, crossed into the centre for Djimsiti who was in the right place at the right time and, after stopping the ball with his chest, anticipated the intervention of the opposing goalkeeper with the outside of his foot, scoring the 1-0 for the Nerazzurri.. Having found the lead, the “Goddess” did not rest on their laurels and instead increased their push, legitimizing the lead with a robust amount of goal opportunities: in the 25th minute Samardzic tried twice in a matter of seconds. De Ketelaere's left-footed shot in the 32nd minute was also unsuccessful, but the clearest opportunity fell on Lookman's right-footed shot, who in the 36th minute collected a cross from the right by Zappacosta and hit the crossbar with a right-footed volley. In the 39th minute, De Ketelaere also tried again with a header from the heart of the area that however had neither power nor the right angle. Lookman broke the curse just moments before the 45th minute, capitalising on a cross from Kolasinac with his right foot, sending the Nerazzurri deservedly into the locker room with a 2-0 lead..

Second half

After the break, Gasperini was forced to remove the scorer of the 1-0 Djimsiti due to a hip problem: in his place Pasalic with the consequent climb in defense by De Roon who went to cover the right arm slot. However, it was Shakhtar who counter-attacked better and missed the 2-1 with Konoplia's diagonal shot that missed the Atalanta goal by a few centimeters. A mistake that came at a very high price because the Nerazzurri's third goal came on the counterattack: a wonderful cross from outside to outside by Zappacosta for Bellanova who moved in, headed the ball with perfect timing, beating Pedro Henrique and scoring the 3-0.. A hat-trick that allows the Nerazzurri to play even more smoothly, who at 52' they even come close to scoring a poker with Zappacosta's conclusion that hits the post of the Ukrainians' goal, who seem to be really on the ropes. Despite the more than reassuring triple advantage, Gasperini wants a front-wheel drive Atalanta and puts Zaniolo and Retegui in place of De Ketelaere and Looman, while the first three Shakhtar grafts arrive in the 63rd minute and are Lassana Traoré, Kevin and Bondarenko. The long round of substitutions does not change the substance of the match, which sees Atalanta become dangerous again with Samardzic and Zaniolo managing the ball without particular worries despite the generous surge of pride of Shakhtar in the final and taking home the victory with a peremptory final 3-0. The only flaw is the injury that forces Kossounou to make way for Godfrey in the final.

The little table

Shakhtar Donetsk (3-4-1-2): Riznyk; Bondar, Ghram (from 46' Konoplia), Matvienko; Gomes (from 63' Kevin), Kryskiv, Stepanenko (from 63' Bondarenko), Pedro Henrique; Sudakov; Zubkov (from 75' Newerton), Eguinaldo (from 63' Lassana Traoré). All. Pusic

Atalanta (3-4-3): Carnesecchi; Kossounou (from 85' Godfrey), Djimsiti (from 46' Pasalic), Kolasinac; Bellanova (from 75' Cuadrado), De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; Samardzic, De Ketelaere (from 60' Zaniolo), Lookman (from 60' Retegui). Coach Gasperini

Scorers: Djimsiti (21'), Lookman (44'), Bellanova (48').

Note - Yellow cards: Ghram, Zaniolo, Gasperini, Ederson.