Gasperini: Atalanta ‘controlled’ against Sturm Graz and reached ‘great achievement’ | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini feels Atalanta have grabbed their first win of 2025 at ‘the right time’, defeating Sturm Graz to earn a place into the top 24 of the Champions League’s league phase, an achievement that ‘wasn’t guaranteed at the start’.

La Dea’s 5-0 battering of the Austrians means they are now certain of progressing to the knockout phase play-off but also have full chances of heading straight to the round-of-16, although their last match against Barcelona could prove decisive in that respect.

epa11842755 Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere scores the 3-0 lead during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atalanta BC and SK Sturm Graz at Bergamo Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, 21 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

The Italian tactician urged his players not to ‘lose humility’ in their final fixture against the Blaugrana, but admitted it will be ‘a huge motivation’.

Gasperini: Atalanta will need to combine ‘boldness’ with ‘humility’ against Barcelona

“We needed this; we just couldn’t manage to win in 2025 so far, and it came at the right time,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia after the match.

“We’ve had a good run, despite a tough schedule that included hosting Arsenal and Real Madrid. Tonight, we wanted to close it out.

“In the first half, we didn’t do very well technically, but then we controlled the game. Already being in the top 24 is a great achievement, which wasn’t guaranteed at the start.”

Atalanta boast one of the best attacks in the competition, having scored 18 goals from seven Champions League matches, a kind of offensive ‘boldness’ that could also pose a threat to the Spanish giants in the next round.

“Boldness is good, as long as we don’t lose humility,” the coach warned.

“We’re playing against a very strong team, and we also have a league with very tough matches. We’re playing with great intensity, but in any case, we’ll go to Barcelona to give our best, as we always do.

“These are games of such prestige. We haven’t faced Barcelona in recent years. I don’t know if that means we’re lucky, considering we’ve faced all of Europe’s top teams. For us, it will be a huge motivation.

“We’ll see how the two league matches before it go. Rotating players doesn’t mean we don’t want to win. In Riyadh, I made three changes to players who had starred against Roma, but it seemed like we went there not to play.

“In many matches, you have to make the most of a deep squad, as we did tonight.”

epa11802691 Gian Piero Gasperini, head coach of BC Atalanta, reacts during the Suppercoppa Italiana semi-finals match between Inter FC and BC Atalanta, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 02 January 2025. EPA-EFE/STRINGER

Gianluca Scamacca is closing in on his return to action after a lengthy injury, which will force Gasperini to pick one between him and the team’s leading goalscorer Mateo Retegui.

“Considering the other forwards, it’s the most likely solution, but I’m convinced they can play together as well,” the coach observed.

“We’ll see whether from the start or during the match. Scamacca needs a bit of playing time to get back into rhythm, but he’s very motivated.

“He started the season fantastically, and I’ll try to integrate him as soon as possible. We need to be cautious, as we’re missing a replacement for Lookman and De Ketelaere, unless Zaniolo develops into that type of player.

“I believe having a strong attack is crucial. Having players who can come on and make a difference is important. Samardzic is doing well now; this is a team that can grow.”