Defender Jose Luis Palomino said Atalanta aim to start the Champions League campaign ‘in the best possible way’ against Villarreal on Tuesday.
The Orobici arrive from a defeat to Fiorentina and Palomino wants to make up for it with a win in Spain on Tuesday.
— Alfredo Pedullà (@AlfredoPedulla) September 13, 2021
The Argentine defender said La Lupa are preparing to ‘compete’ in the prestigious competition but knows there’s a competitive opposition already in the first round of fixtures.
Villarreal, who won the Europa League and only lost on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup Final against Chelsea, host Atalanta tomorrow night and Palomino stressed La Dea are ‘ready’ to fight for a good start.
“We are ready to compete for another year in the Champions League,” Palomino said at a press conference. “We start against a team that won the Europa League last season.
“After what happened in the championship, we hope to start in the best possible way.”
Atalanta have qualified for the knockout stages in the last two seasons and are preparing for their third consecutive year in the competition.
Coach Gian Piero Gasperini said his men have ‘the same desire’ to do well in Europe, as they have demonstrated in previous years.
They don’t look right so far this season. Hope they get themselves in gear pretty quickly, otherwise we could have another Serie A team out early. They’re not in the easiest group.