Atalanta absolutely dominated Shakhtar Donetsk in a comfortable 3-0 victory and could’ve had far more goals than those scored by Berat Djimsiti, Ademola Lookman and Raoul Bellanova.
Both these teams started their European campaigns with 0-0 draws, La Dea at home to Arsenal and the Ukrainians away to Bologna, albeit with an early Georgiy Sudakov penalty saved. Injuries continued to pile up for Gian Piero Gasperini, who lose Matteo Ruggeri and Marco Brescianini along with Isak Hien, Rafael Toloi, Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca. Surprisingly, Charles De Ketelaere was used as a False 9. Shakhtar missed Danylo Sikan and Tymur Puznakov and were playing on neutral turf in Gelsenkirchen.
See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.
Ademola Lookman flashed an angled drive across the face of goal and also provided the assist for the opening goal, his cross going past Ederson, but Berat Djimsiti managed a chest and volley flick off the outside of the boot from four yards. It was the defender’s first Champions League goal.
Atalanta take the lead against Shakhtar Donetsk through Berat Djimsiti 💪
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0PFukAuRJN
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 2, 2024
Lazar Samardzic came close to 2-0, first firing over, then with a finish deflected inches wide after squirming through two tackles.
De Ketelaere also blasted off target at the end of a well-worked move, but Lookman was unlucky to see his scorching volley smash against the crossbar on 36 minutes.
A De Ketelaere header from six yards was straight at the goalkeeper, but the second goal was a lovely move including the Lookman back-heel flick, Samardzic spreading it down the left for Sead Kolasinac and Lookman sweeping the finish into the far bottom corner off the inside of the right boot. This too was the Nigeria international’s first Champions League goal.
Ademola Lookman now has a goal and assist against Shakhtar Donetsk in the first half 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/kXPKMPcG0e
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 2, 2024
Djimsiti was forced off at half-time by a hip injury, so Marten de Roon dropped into the back three.
Yukhym Konoplia came off the bench and immediately drilled just wide in Shakhtar’s best chance of the game, but Atalanta had their fourth moments later.
Davide Zappacosta floated a ball to the back post for the head of his fellow wing-back Raoul Bellanova, his first goal for the club.
Atalanta are completely dominating Shakhtar Donetsk as they go 3-0 up 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/gsXo7VGYcp
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 2, 2024
Zappacosta almost got a fourth soon after, his strike thumping the base of the near post, and Samardzic stung the goalkeeper’s gloves.
Nicolò Zaniolo blasted over from distance, but there was another blow with Kossounou limping off, adding to the shortage of defenders.
This result means Atalanta have four points after two games and a goal difference of +3.
Shakhtar Donetsk 0-3 Atalanta
Djimsiti 21 (A), Lookman 44 (A), Bellanova 48 (A)
Player statistic
| Alaa Ghram |  |
20' | ||
| 21' |  |
Berat Djimsiti (Assist: Ademola Lookman) | ||
| 44' | |
Ademola Lookman (Assist: Sead Kolasinac) |
| 48' | |
Raoul Bellanova (Assist: Davide Zappacosta) | ||
| 78' | |
Nicolò Zaniolo | ||
| 84' | |
Éderson |
