Last hurrah in Lombardy | OneFootball

As well as being a useful run-out, silverware will be up for grabs when Eintracht visit Atalanta in a friendly on Friday evening.

2022 is drawing to a close in a sporting sense, but the Eagles have another 90 minutes of football against high-level European opposition to look forward to.

Meeting again after six and a half years

Just like Eintracht’s last and only previous meeting with the Serie A side, the idea for the upcoming friendly originated from the two clubs’ organised fan groups. Atalanta and Eintracht also have the opportunity to get their hands on some silverware in the run-up to Christmas: the Trofeo Bortolotti.

Hosts Atalanta have competed for the trophy since 1992 in honour of former presidents Achille and Cesare Bortolotti. Timothy Chandler was involved in the teams’ last meeting six and a half years ago, when the Eagles triumphed 6-5 on penalties.

Head coaches Gian Piero Gasperini and Oliver Glasner will be without 11 World Cup players between them – four for the home side and seven for the Hessians.

Colombian firepower

The game sees other international colleagues go head to head, with Rafael Santos Borré taking on his two 31-year-old Colombian team-mates, Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata, at the Gewiss Stadium.

While Eintracht’s winter break starts right after their ninth friendly of the season and lasts until 4 January, Atalanta’s clash with Spezia Calcio on 4 January means the Italian side will continue their mid-season preparations until the end of December.

Take note, Eagles fans: the match will be shown live on EintrachtTV, mainaqila, YouTube and Facebook, in association with premium partner DWS.