Atalanta absolutely dominated the first half in Lisbon with Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri goals, then held on for the precious victory despite a Sporting comeback.
Gianluca Scamacca was back on the bench ahead of schedule, leaving only El Bilal Toure on the treatment table, while the hosts had Sebastian Coates only available as a substitute, plus Jerry St. Juste and Trincao out of action. Both teams started with victories, so this was a head-to-head for the top of the group.
Ademola Lookman completed a give-and-go with Charles De Ketelaere, but rather than go for goal, he went for the roll across that Teun Koopmeiners could not reach.
Sead Kolasinac steered a free header wide, but it took until the 32nd minute for the domination to finally pay off. It was a long team move, culminating in Davide Zappacosta pulling back from the by-line between a defender’s legs for centre-back Giorgio Scalvini to tap in from five yards.
Lookman tried a back-heel flick and then fired over from six yards on the deflected Matteo Ruggeri cross, while he also stung Antonio Adan’s gloves from outside the box.
It was difficult to over-state just how much Atalanta were dominating in Lisbon and the second goal was another long period of possession leading to Ruggeri exchanging passes with Lookman, the first attempt parried by Adan, but the wing-back pounced on the rebound.
Inevitably, Sporting could not continue like that and made three changes, coming out fighting for the second half. A free kick routine found Goncalo Inacio for a header wide at the back post, while Juan Musso’s gloves were stung at the near post by Matheus Reis, then Ousmane Diomande’s rebound was deflected over by Scalvini’s fist, which was near to his face, but still enough to warrant a penalty via VAR. Viktor Gyokeres converted off the inside of the upright.
This made Sporting believe in the comeback and Musso immediately had to make two desperate saves on Marcus Edwards and Gerry Catamo, the second fingertipped onto the upright.
Pedro Goncalves risked more than a yellow card for a reaction foul that saw him pull Marten de Roon’s ankle and Scamacca’s scorcher was acrobatically palmed over the bar.
Sporting 1-2 Atalanta
Scalvini 32 (A), Ruggeri 42 (A), Gyokeres pen 76 (S)
Player statistic
| 33' |  |
Giorgio Scalvini | ||
| 43' | |
Matteo Ruggeri |
| 51' |  |
Berat Djimsiti | ||
| 60' | |
Rafael Tolói | ||
| Viktor Gyökeres |  |
76' | ||
| 76' | |
Sead Kolasinac | ||
| Pedro Gonçalves | |
84' | ||
| Daniel Bragança | |
90+2' | ||
| 90+2' | |
Gianluca Scamacca |
Match statistic
