Gasperini: ‘Atalanta need to be optimistic’ in Champions League | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini feels Atalanta ‘need to be optimistic’ in the Champions League play-off against Club Brugge after their controversial defeat and reveals Ademola Lookman’s condition.

It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Milan-Feyenoord on the Liveblog.

La Dea were fairly content to settle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg, but ended up losing 2-1 thanks to a comically soft penalty awarded in stoppages for Isak Hien placing his arm across Gustaf Nilsson.

That means they need to win by one clear goal tonight to force extra time in this play-off and get a victory by more than that for access to the Round of 16.

“This is the Champions League, we need to be optimistic because there are two legs, home and away,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

“In the old days, a 2-1 away defeat was a decent result, but it is much less now with the away goals rule gone. In order to go through, we simply have to win.

“Club Brugge play with sharpness, technique and pace, so we must do better than in the first leg, even if the result didn’t really reflect how many chances we created. It will be difficult for us, but also for them.”

Atalanta decimated by injuries

epa11891346 Mario Pasalic (L) of Atalanta scores the 1-1 with a header during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-offs 1st leg match between Club Brugge KV and Atalanta BC, in Bruges, Belgium, 12 February 2025. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

The injury crisis continues to intensify for Atalanta, who are missing Isak Hien, Daniel Maldini, former Brugge defender Odilon Kossounou, Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini.

At least Sead Kolasinac returns to the starting XI and Lookman is back on the bench after several weeks out.

“It has not been a fortunate time for us in terms of results and incidents, many of them really obvious incidents, not to say extremely controversial, but we have to keep going and give our best,” continued Gasperini.

“This is our 39th game of the season, already six more than at this stage last year, so little injuries will happen. Lookman could’ve potentially started, I made a different choice. We can only hope for the best.”