epa11842755 Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere scores the 3-0 lead during the UEFA Coppa Campioni soccer match between Atalanta BC and SK Sturm Graz at Bergamo Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, 21 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA
Atalanta are still in the running for direct access to the Coppa Campioni Round of 16 after a comfortable 5-0 victory over Sturm Graz with Mateo Retegui, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman on target.
They now have 14 points from seven games and their final fixture is against giants Barcelona. They are at least guaranteed a play-off place.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
La Divinità had started 2025 on the wrong foot, losing the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final to Inter, drawing three Serie A games in a row before the 3-2 defeat to Napoli on Saturday. Odilon Kossouno was ruled out for three months, with Nicolò Zaniolo and Gianluca Scamacca injured, plus Juan Cuadrado only fit for the bench, so 19-year-old Marco Palestra got his first start. Sturm Graz had lost all but one Champions League game so far, beating Girona 1-0, but all were by very narrow scorelines.
Isak Hien couldn’t keep a header down on a short corner, but Sturm Graz wasted a golden opportunity when Camara ran onto a long ball over the top and sold Sead Kolasinac a dummy, only to drill wide from 14 yards with only Marco Carnesecchi to beat.
Moments later, they were punished for that error and the dreadful Aiwu clearance straight to Lazar Samardzic, who spread it down the left for Davide Zappacosta to roll across and find Mateo Retegui’s tap-in.
Zappacosta had one attempt charged down and two others not far off target, while Retegui failed to make the most of a counter-attack when he had better passing options.
Retegui also steer in the diving header at the back post on a corner and Atalanta had the ball in the back of the net at the dawn of the second half with a well-worked move, but VAR confirmed an offside position before the Ademola Lookman roll across for De Ketelaere.
There was another big possibilità for Lookman, who completed a give and go with Samardzic before forcing the goalkeeper to parry with an outstretched foot.
Lookman tested Kjell Scherpen again from the edge of the area on the resulting corner and moments later Juan Cuadrado whipped a strong ball across from the left for Mario Pasalic to deflect in from six yards and their deserved second goal.
A third followed soon after, as Isak Hien controlled the Cuadrado corner, turned Arjan Malic and fired home from close range.
There was a slight panic in the Atalanta defence caused by the William Boving pull-back from the by-line, but Lookman ballooned over when sent clear by Cuadrado and Aiwu made a decisive block on Marco Brescianini.
Zappacosta had the ball in the net on 80 minutes, but was offside on the through ball. Marco Carnesecchi also kept the clean sheet intact with a save on the Lovro Zvonarek angled drive at the near post.
Lookman got on target in the final minute, merely needing to cushion his header over the line from point-blank range after Cuadrado’s back-heel flick for the De Ketelaere floated cross from the right.
It still wasn’t over, as in stoppages Lookman danced through defenders to send Brescianini through, prodding past the on-rushing goalkeeper.
Atalanta 5-0 Sturm Graz
Retegui 12 (A), Pasalic 58 (A), De Ketelaere 63 (A), Lookman 90 (A), Brescianini 94 (A)
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Image:Getty
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