Atalanta no longer Champions League underdogs

Atalanta‘s Europa League win last season and their recent 0-0 draw against Arsenal prove that Gian Piero Gasperini’s side can no longer be seen as underdogs in the Champions League.

By now, every football fan in Europe and the world should know that Atalanta are not only a pretty team to watch. Not anymore.

Their Europa League victory last season allowed them to reach the pinnacle of European football, and not many can say that they were surprised by their 0-0 draw against Arsenal on Thursday in their first Champions League game in 2024-25

Last season, Atalanta lifted the Europa League trophy, giving Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen their only defeat in the campaign. La Dea will meet another Bundesliga side, VfB Stuttgart, in the Champions League this season, while German clubs will be looking for redemption in European competition. German football betting sites expect a rampant amount of betting in the next few months ahead of the 2025 Champions League and Europa League Finals.

Atalanta may not go this far, but La Dea has surely consolidated its status in Europe over the last 12 months. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, they had already impressed in the Europa League and the Champions League, going two minutes from a semifinal in 2020.

The game against Arsenal on Thursday proved that the Nerazzurri will still be one of the most exciting clubs to watch in Europe this term.

“We should be happy with the performance, which was of a high level to match our opponents,” Gasperini said after the Arsenal game.

Atalanta could have won the match, but David Raya denied Mateo Retegui from the spot and in the rebound in the second half.

“Seeing the rebound, it was an exceptional save, but also the header was too close to him,” said Gasperini.

“It’s a pity, as that was perhaps the best performance Retegui had since he’s been here and he worked so hard tonight, he deserved a goal.

“It was not easy to break down the Arsenal defence and we need to improve our play out from the back, but I am satisfied,” continued Gasperini.

“We learned something from this match and want to carry that forward. This is why we’ve managed to grow so much in recent years and been able to play at this level.”

Atalanta have earned six points in four Serie A games so far this season. On Monday, September 23, they’ll face Cesc Fabregas’ Como in a Lombardy derby in Bergamo. Their next Champions League match is away at Shakhtar Donetsk on October 2.