UCL: Gasperini's Atalanta Eye Historic Win Over Madrid

Atalanta's Gian Piero Gasperini plots to derail Real Madrid's Champions League campaign.

Atalanta are eyeing a historic Champions League victory over reigning champions Real Madrid on Tuesday. The Serie A leaders are on a mission to make a statement and push the 15-time European champions to the brink of elimination.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side are riding a wave of momentum, having surged to the top of the Italian league table. In a remarkable turn of events, some pundits are even tipping Atalanta as favorites to win when they host Real Madrid in Bergamo on Tuesday.

Atalanta are poised to create history as they prepare to face reigning Champions League winners Real Madrid on Tuesday. The Italian side, now leading the Serie A standings, aim to secure a top-eight finish and potentially push the 15-time European champions closer to a surprising exit.

“That's a matter of opinion, I'm not exactly very convinced but if that's what people want to say that's fine by me,” said Gasperini after Friday's win over AC Milan.

Gian Piero Gasperini's team is in exceptional form, having risen to the top of the Italian league. In a remarkable reversal of fortunes, some pundits now favor Atalanta to win when they host Real Madrid in Bergamo on Tuesday.

Atalanta could have easily boasted a flawless record of five wins from five matches, but instead, they were held to goalless draws by Arsenal and Celtic. Despite these stalemates, Atalanta created numerous scoring opportunities, demonstrating their attacking prowess.

The upcoming match at the Gewiss Stadium on Tuesday presents Atalanta with a chance to avenge their defeat to Real Madrid in the European Super Cup in August. Although Madrid appeared unbeatable at the time, Atalanta performed admirably, and the Italians will be eager to prove themselves against the Spanish giants, who have since been bolstered by the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.

Atalanta can significantly boost their chances of direct qualification for the last 16 by securing a strong result. According to most forecasts, they have already accumulated enough points to reach the play-offs, and five more points would guarantee a spot among the top eight teams.

Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini views the upcoming match as a pivotal moment for the club. “Tuesday is another huge event for us, the club and the city of Bergamo,” he added. “We're playing Real Madrid close to our first objective in the Champions League, and maybe we can even get something more.”

Atalanta's current success is a notable departure from their historical performance in Serie A, where their highest finish has been third place, achieved three consecutive times between 2019 and 2021. During that period, the team thrilled fans with an energetic attack featuring Josip Ilicic, Duvan Zapata, and Papu Gomez.

The atmosphere was electric as Atalanta fans erupted in joy, chanting “we're gonna win the league” after Ademola Lookman's decisive late goal on Friday. This strike marked Lookman's 10th goal of the season, further solidifying his remarkable campaign. Alongside Charles De Ketelaere and Serie A's top scorer Mateo Retegui, Lookman forms a formidable attacking trio.

What sets the current Atalanta team apart from Gian Piero Gasperini's previous squads is their ability to grind out victories. Gasperini's team has developed a reputation for being resilient and determined. As the coach noted, “These wins aren't just falling from the sky. This team goes for the win right to the end. Every time. We always look to play and try to win.” This mentality will be put to the test as they face Real Madrid, who are seeking to revive their Champions League campaign. To achieve this, Madrid's stars, including Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, will need to overcome an Atalanta team that has conceded only one goal in five European fixtures.