Gian Piero Gasperini has taken six Atalanta academy graduates with him for Wednesday evening’s away match against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, but will have to do without the injured Matteo Ruggeri, while Marco Brescianini also drops out.
There is an academy representative in every position of Atalanta’s confirmed squad, as Goalkeeper Francesco Rossi, who has been on the club’s books since 2003, is named among the goalkeepers.
The five other academy graduates are still eligible to represent the U23 squad. Defenders Pietro Comi, Tommaso Del Lungo and Marco Palestra are included, as is 19-year-old midfielder Alberto Manzioni, plus centre-forward Vanja Vlahovic, who earned his senior debut as a substitute against Como last Tuesday.
Gasperini’s list of injuries still includes Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, both out with cruciate ligament injuries, plus the aforementioned Ruggeri, who also misses out with a knee issue.
Brescianini has also not made the cut, but otherwise, all of Atalanta’s available senior players have been included.
Kick-off on Wednesday evening is scheduled for 17.45 BST.
Confirmed Atalanta squad for Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League
*wing-backs have been listed as defenders
Goalkeepers: Carnesecchi, Rui Patricio, Rossi.
Defenders: Bellanova, Cuadrado, Kossounou, Godfrey, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, Palestra, Comi, Del Lungo.
Midfielders: Pasalic, Ederson, De Roon, Samardzic, Manzioni.
Forwards: Retegui, Lookman, De Ketelaere, Zaniolo, Vlahovic.
Nerazzurri in partenza per Gelsenkirchen 📋
The group departing for Germany 🛫#ShaktarAtalanta #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/a4opjxVQMA
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) October 1, 2024
Grande Gian Piero! This is exactly what Italian football has been crying out for. We need more youngsters, especially Italians given more opportunities at local and European level/s.
Neither Vlahovic or Del Lungo Atalanta academy grads. They both came through youth systems elsewhere.