Atalanta Thrash Sturm Graz 5-0 to Seal Champions League Playoff Spot
Atalanta stormed into the UEFA Champions League play-off round with a dominant 5-0 victory over Sturm Graz in Bergamo. The result eliminated the Austrian Bundesliga leaders, who struggled in their first competitive match after a six-week winter break.
Sturm Graz had a golden opportunity to take the lead within the first minute, but Amady Camara’s shot veered wide when he was clean through on goal. Moments later, Atalanta punished the visitors for their missed chance as Matteo Retegui latched onto Davide Zappacosta’s precise cross, slotting home from close range to give the hosts an early advantage.
The Italian side nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Ademola Lookman, introduced as a substitute, set up Charles De Ketelaere for what appeared to be a tap-in. However, VAR intervened to rule the goal out for offside.
Lookman continued to trouble the Sturm Graz defense, forcing two excellent saves from Kjell Scherpen. Eventually, Atalanta’s persistence paid off when Mario Pasalic capitalized on Juan Cuadrado’s cross, stabbing home to make it 2-0.
De Ketelaere made amends for his earlier disallowed goal, pouncing on a loose ball after a poorly cleared corner to extend the lead. Lookman, who had missed a glorious one-on-one opportunity earlier, finally found the back of the net with a header from De Ketelaere’s delivery at the back post.
Marco Brescianini, another substitute, capped off Atalanta’s emphatic performance with a late goal, cementing a dominant win for Gian Piero Gasperini’s men.
The victory leaves Atalanta on the brink of qualification for the last 16. A win against Barcelona on Wednesday, January 29, could secure them a direct spot in the knockout rounds. With such a commanding performance, Atalanta has sent a clear message that they are a force to be reckoned with in this season’s competition.
