Pro Sports

Atalanta beats Dinamo 2-0 for 1st Champions League win

Posted November 26, 2019 6:00 am

By DANIELLA MATAR

Atalanta's players celebrate after the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

MILAN (AP) - Atalanta's first Champions League victory illustrated just how far the Italian club has come in its debut season in the competition.

A little more than two months after being thrashed 4-0 at Dinamo Zagreb in its group-stage opener, Atalanta beat the Croatian club 2-0 on Tuesday to keep alive its chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

The Italian side dominated much of the game and easily could have scored more goals, but settled for a penalty from Luis Muriel and a solo effort from Alejandro "Papu" Gomez.

'œIt's always difficult to explain,'ť Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon said with a laugh when asked about the difference between both matches. 'œToday maybe we prepared a bit better. We played the ball well and with depth and they dropped deeper and we had more chances.

'œWe didn't play in Zagreb. It was a match in which Atalanta wasn't there.'ť

Last-place Atalanta moved to four points in Group C, one behind Dinamo and two behind Shakhtar Donetsk, which it plays in its final group match.

'œIt's like today, we need to win,'ť De Roon added. 'œWe said before tonight, we need to win both matches to stay in Europe and with a bit of fortune, maybe even in the Champions League.'ť

Manchester City drew 1-1 against Shakhtar to secure first place in the group.

Dinamo hosts City in their final group game.

'œWe're going to risk everything,'ť Dinamo coach Nenad Bjelica said. 'œWe have nothing to lose, we can only win, just like Atalanta today. Playing like that is easier. A point does nothing for us, we will believe right until the end, we will believe in ourselves.'ť

Atalanta had only won one of its last eight matches in all competitions but it had managed to secure an impressive point against City in its previous Champions League match.

And it could have been 2-0 up after just three minutes as first Hans Hateboer and then Mario Pasalic missed good opportunities.

Atalanta kept up the pressure and took the lead in the 27th minute. Robin Gosens' shot crashed off the crossbar and Muriel was fouled by Dino Peric as he attempted to reach the rebound.

Muriel stroked the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner.

Muriel blasted over the bar in the 32nd and Atalanta went even closer to doubling its lead moments later when Hateboer's effort was cleared off the line by Peric, making up for his penalty foul.

Atalanta was almost made to rue its missed opportunities as Mislav Orsic - who scored a hat trick in Zagreb - curled a shot onto the crossbar.

The Italian side finally got its second goal two minutes into the second half as Gomez cut inside from the right, bamboozled his way past a defender and fired into the far bottom corner.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Atalanta's head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, left, shake hands with Atalanta's Luis Muriel, right, after the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Luis Muriel, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his sides first goal during the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Luis Muriel, left, scores a penalty kick past Dinamo Zagreb's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, center, during the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Atalanta's head coach Gian Piero Gasperini prior the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Papu Gomez celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Atalanta's Papu Gomez, center, shoots to score his isdes second goal past Dinamo Zagreb's Dino Peric, right, during the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Dinamo Zagreb's goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, left, makes a save against Atalanta's Mario Pasalic, right, during the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Dinamo Zagreb's Emir Dilaver, left, challenges Atalanta's Luis Muriel, right, during the Champions League group C soccer match between Atalanta and Dinamo Zagreb at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) The Associated Press

Article Comments

Article Categories
Content Providers MLS Pro Sports Soccer Sports Sports Leagues Sports Types

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.