UEFA Europa League 2023-2024 (credit: UEFA)UEFA Europa League 2023-2024 (credit: UEFA)

Third game out of four challenges in this Europa League edition, after the two in the Group Stage

Another UEFA Europa League night, another Sporting Clube de Portugal – Atalanta challange. The third one in this season.

At the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisboa, Leões and la Dea faced each other in front of a good crowd attendence, considering the kick-off time. Atalanta called to a terrible cyclone of domestic and international competitions (8 games in just over 30 days) started in late February againsts AC Milan, FC Internazionale Milano, Bologna FC, another Europa League doubleheader with Sporting Clube de Portugal, and more Juventus FC, ACF Fiorentina and versus defending Italian champions SSC Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona in late March.

Already two are the matches this year against Rúben Amorim‘s team (who in 2021 returned the Portuguese green-and-white to league victory after nineteen years); in Lisboa, la Dea won 2-1 (goals by Scalvini and Ruggeri, Gjokeres’ penalty for Sporting). On the return trip, in Italy, it ended 1-1: Scamacca and Edwards in goal. Again Gianluca Scamacca went in goal this evening, responding to Paulinho’s initial Portuguese goal. In the middle, Atalanta slammed the Alvalade’s woodworks three times with Holm, Scamacca and Lookman. The hosts also picked up a woodwork with captain Coates in the second half.

A vibrant game ended, as last time, in a draw. After the 1-1 at the Alvalade, it will be the 90′ at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo that will decide the challange.

Credit photo: UEFA