Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Atalanta BC
Sporting Lisbon and Atalanta BC are set to renew their rivalry in the Europa League as the Portuguese side welcomes the Serie A club for the first leg of the last-16 clash at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Wednesday.
In their previous encounter during the group stage, Gian Piero Gasperini’s team managed to secure four points out of a possible six. However, Atalanta currently faces several challenges as they prepare for this doubleheader.
Ruben Amorim may have made light-hearted remarks ahead of Wednesday’s match about the simplicity of scouting Atalanta, but the Sporting head coach is well aware that facing the Bergamo-based club will be no easy task.
Sporting Lisbon didn’t manage to secure victories in both of their Group D encounters, drawing 1-1 in Italy and notably losing to Gasperini’s side at the Jose Alvalade back in October.
Nevertheless, these past results shouldn’t overshadow Sporting’s confidence as they enter the knockout stage in better form than their opponents. Moreover, Sporting has excelled in recent Europa League knockout ties, progressing from the last three.
Adding to the hosts’ optimism is their strong record in home matches during the round of 16, having never lost in their previous four encounters—claiming two wins and two draws. They aim to extend this streak after Wednesday’s fixture in Lisbon.
While the outcome against Atalanta remains uncertain, Sporting’s impressive run of seven wins in nine matches across all competitions should bolster their confidence ahead of the upcoming clash.
If this match had taken place a couple of weeks ago, Gasperini’s squad would have been in a much more favorable position. However, two consecutive defeats have significantly dented their confidence.
Atalanta suffered a heavy defeat against the likely Serie A champions last week, followed by a 2-1 loss at home to Bologna at the Gewiss Stadium, marking their first defeat in Bergamo since November 2023.
Their seasoned manager lamented the four minutes that led to conceding two goals against Bologna, including a penalty scored by Joshua Zirkzee and another by Lewis Ferguson shortly after, nullifying Ademola Lookman’s 28th-minute goal.
La Dea are now eager to bounce back from their three-game winless streak in domestic competitions. They aim to secure their fourth European victory against the Portuguese side and extend their unbeaten run against the same opponents to three matches.
While the outcome remains uncertain, Atalanta’s track record of losing only two of their previous 20 Europa League matches is a positive sign heading into Wednesday’s fixture.
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Goncalo Inacio (muscle) and Antonio Adan (thigh) are unlikely to start on Wednesday.
With Ricky van Wolfswinkel being the only player to have scored more than five goals in continental competitions, Viktor Gyokeres (five) needs just one more goal to equal the striker’s tally of six from the 2011-12 season.
Lookman found the net for Atalanta against Bologna, making a return after his duty with AFCO 2023. Gasperini hopes that Lookman, who scored his first goal of 2024 on Sunday, continues to perform well.
La Dea enters the game with no reported injury concerns, providing Gasperini with a fit squad.
Possible starting lineup for Sporting Lisbon: Israel; Diomande, Coates, Reis; Esgaio, Hjulmand, Braganca, Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Edwards
Possible starting lineup for Atalanta BC: Musso; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Hateboer, Pasalic, Ederson, Bakker; Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere, Lookman
