Europa: Lookman’s Atalanta battle Sporting Lisbon in must-win duel
Two standout sides in Group D of the Europa League meet at the Gewiss Stadium on Thursday, when Sporting Lisbon travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta BC.
A win for La Dea on matchday two means they are currently in the ascendancy to top the group, and just a point here will ensure direct passage into the last 16.
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Gian Piero Gasperini has already led his Atalanta side into the knockout round, courtesy of their 1-0 win over Sturm Graz on matchday four.
However, with only the group winners qualifying straight into the last 16, there is still plenty riding on this game for the Italian side.
A 2-1 win in Lisbon when the sides met back in October means only a draw is required, as they would then go into the final matchday three points clear with a superior head-to-head record.
It was a superb performance from Atalanta at the Jose Alvalade, as they raced into a 2-0 half-time lead where they would have felt disappointed it was not more.
There could have been less jeopardy on this game, though, had Gasperini’s side not surrendered a lead against 10-man Sturm on matchday three, resulting in their only dropped points so far.
Domestically, Atalanta have been less impressive, taking just one point from their previous three games, leaving them seventh.
Gasperini was extremely disappointed following defeat to Napoli at the weekend, claiming: “Some incidents prevent us raising the bar, we play overall at the same level as teams like Inter Milan, Napoli and Juventus. When this team shakes off some of its fears, it really causes problems for the opposition.”
The fears he will have been referring to in this instance was the huge error made by goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi late on, which gifted Napoli a winner in Bergamo.
Sporting will look to pounce on any Atalanta errors here in order to claim supremacy in the section, as that defeat on matchday two has left them playing catchup ever since.
The Portuguese side failed to take advantage of Atalanta dropping points against Sturm, as they also only managed a draw against competition debutants Rakow Czestochowa the same evening.
Progression to the knockout round is not yet absolutely guaranteed though, as Sporting may still need a draw with Sturm on matchday six to make sure, depending on results this week.
If Sporting want to avoid the preliminary round in February, then a win is paramount here, and it would need to be by a better scoreline than the 2-1 Atalanta managed in October.
A remarkably poor record away in Italy makes it seem unlikely, though, as the Lisbon giants have never won a game on Italian soil in 15 attempts – losing 12.
While Ruben Amorim’s side have won 14 of their 18 games this season, they have often dropped points on the big occasions, including in the reverse, and in the Lisbon derby before the international break where Sporting conceded two injury-time goals to lose in dramatic circumstances to Benfica, losing their grip on top spot in the process.
With El Bilal Toure still out for an undisclosed length of time for Atalanta, Gasperini may opt to go with Gianluca Scamacca and Luis Muriel up front here.
Both started on the bench at the weekend, but they have been utilised more often in Europe, so Charles De Ketelaere and Mario Pasalic may drop to the bench, with Ademola Lookman taking up a deeper role.
After Juan Musso lost his place as Atalanta’s number one, Carnesecchi’s error on Saturday will give Gasperini a decision to make about whether to stick with the rookie keeper.
Marten De Roon should come back into the side in midfield after missing the defeat to Napoli through suspension.
Sporting were able to welcome back Geny Catamo from injury at the weekend, playing an hour in their 8-0 cup thrashing of Dumiense.
Viktor Gyokeres was brought on as a second-half substitute and registered a goal and an assist ahead of his expected return to European action following his sending off against Rakow.
Pedro Goncalves took the mantle in the Swede’s absence, scoring both of their goals in the win on matchday four, meaning Sporting have still not lost in any of the 23 games in which he has scored – winning 19.
Marcus Edwards is a doubt for the clash despite escaping unscathed from a car accident on his way to training on Wednesday morning.
Atalanta BC possible starting lineup:
Musso; Rafael Toloi, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Bakker; Lookman, Scamacca, Muriel
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Diomande, Coates, Goncalo Inacio; Ricardo Esgaio, Hjulmand, Morita, Nuno Santos; Trincao, Gyokeres, Pedro Goncalves