Atalanta ready to deal fatal blow to Liverpool

ATALANTA have a chance to make history on Friday (3am) as they welcome Liverpool to Bergamo with one foot in the Europa League semifinals thanks to a stunning first-leg win at Anfield.

Atalanta once again punched way above their weight last week by dishing out a 3-0 hammering to Liverpool and are on the verge of reaching the last four of a European competition for the first time since 1988.

Last week’s win in England was probably the greatest European night in Atalanta’s history as their run to 2020 Champions League quarterfinals – where they were desperately unlucky to lose to Paris SaintGermain – came at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic which devastated Bergamo.

Atalanta’s recent form has been patchy with three wins in 11 matches, and throwing away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with struggling Verona on Monday reminded coach Gian Piero Gasperini of the dangers of complacency.

“Verona managed to score two goals against us in four minutes so we need to be careful. Liverpool are a team that came back from three goals down in a Champions League final against a team of greats,“said Gasperini to Sky Sport yesterday.

“We know that nothing has been decided and that we will have to play really well.”

A historically small club playing in the shadow of – and competing for fans with – the Milanese giants down the road, Atalanta have reached new heights since Gasperini took over as coach in

2016.

Should Atalanta get through they will face one of Benfica or Marseille, missing out on a clash with one of two other Italian teams left in the competition or newlycrowned German champions Bayer Leverkusen, who are heavy favourites to get past West

Ham. – AFP