Gian Piero Gasperini explains why Serie A is ‘the most difficult league in the world’ after Atalanta stunned Liverpool in the Europa League, but ‘the tie is not over yet.’
The match with Verona kicked off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
You can follow all action as it happens from this game and Fiorentina–Genoa on the LIVEBLOG.
The city is buzzing with excitement after the historic 3-0 Europa League quarter-final victory at Anfield, with the stadium sold out for the second leg this Thursday evening.
Gasperini was asked if he would like to see the same ferocity and determination shown in Liverpool.
“Even a bit less is fine,” he laughed on Sky Sport Italia.
“It is not easy to match that level of determination and concentration, but it is helped by playing in such iconic stadiums. This is different, but still a very important match.
“We saw yesterday that all games in Serie A are balanced and difficult. We know what awaits us and Verona have been preparing for this for a full week, whereas we have enthusiasm to build on.”
Squad rotation has been kept to a minimum for this Serie A encounter with relegation-threatened Verona, as Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca are again preferred to Ademola Lookman.
Giorgio Scalvini and Sead Kolasinac are injured, with Marten de Roon and Davide Zappacosta suspended.
“The situation has changed so much. We started the Europa League tie as underdogs, now we are considered the favourites, but either way we know it is not over and Liverpool are a very strong team.”
Atalanta cannot risk dropping more points after the 2-1 defeat to relegation-threatened Cagliari, a side that also held leaders Inter to a 2-2 draw last night.
“This is Serie A, this is why the Italian League is the most difficult in the world,” added Gasperini.
“It doesn’t matter if there are 20 points separating you in the table, if you don’t play at your best, you will pay the price for that.”