Josip Ilicic has given Atalanta a prestigious 1-0 friendly victory over Borussia Dortmund, without injured Papu Gomez.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s boys will be in the Europa League, their first continental foray in over 20 years, and have impressed in pre-season.
Captain Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez was in the stands in Austria today due to a muscular problem, so Jasmin Kurtic and Ilicic supported striker Andrea Petagna.
Josip Ilicic has given Atalanta a prestigious 1-0 friendly victory over Borussia Dortmund, without injured Papu Gomez.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s boys will be in the Europa League, their first continental foray in over 20 years, and have impressed in pre-season.
Captain Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez was in the stands in Austria today due to a muscular problem, so Jasmin Kurtic and Ilicic supported striker Andrea Petagna.
Etrit Berisha needed an early save on Alexander Isak, as did Roman Burki on Kurtic’s rocket and a Timothy Castagne strike, while Christian Pulisic skimmed the woodwork and tested the goalkeeper.
New buy Ilicic missed several sitters, but made up for it by scoring the decisive goal when sent clear by Remo Freuler.
It was almost 2-0 in the final minutes, as Luca Vido nodded just wide and Andreas Cornelius nearly forced an own goal.
Atalanta enjoy the victory, but Borussia Dortmund left most of their big names on the bench ahead of the Super Cup clash with Bayern Munich on August 5.
Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Atalanta
Ilicic 71 (A)
Borussia Dortmund: Bürki (Reimann 46) Passlack, Toprak, Subotic, Beste, Dahoud, Götze (Zagadou 63), Rode, Pulisic, Isak, Philipp
Atalanta: Berisha; Toloi, Masiello (Mancini 71), Palomino; Castagne, Cristante (Pessina 71), Freuler (Haas 71), Spinazzola (Gosens 71); Kurtic, Ilicic (Vido 71); Petagna (Cornelius 71)