ATALANTA NEWS

Champions League group stage draw: Results, reactions, 'Group of Death' and more

The Champions League group stage field is set! Check out the draw, which teams are in the "Group of Death" and more.

AUGUST 26, 2021

Draw for group stage of Champions League

The draw has been made for the group stage of the Champions League

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Luis Muriel - Good to go for Bologna game Muriel did not have lingering problems after subbing off versus Torino and will start Saturday against Bologna, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

Impact Muriel bowed out early in the second half last week, but his problem was minor and he practiced regularly. With Duvan Zapata still sidelined, he will again lead the frontline versus Bologna, eyeing his second goal of the season.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hans Hateboer - Undergoes surgery Hateboer is expected to miss two-to-three months after undergoing foot surgery, Ansa reports.

Impact Hateboer was again being bothered by a metatarsal microfracture in the left foot and opted for the surgical route. He is not expected to return before January. Atalanta have Joakim Maehle in the role and just added Davide Zappacosta as well.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Davide Zappacosta - Joins Atalanta Zappacosta joined Atalanta from Chelsea permanently on Tuesday.

Impact Zappacosta scored four goals last season on loan at Genoa and now returns to Serie A permanently. He never started more than 12 league games in a season for Chelsea and now joins another competitive club, where his biggest challenge will be with Joakim Maehle for minutes on the right flank.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rafael Toloi - Eligible to face Bologna Toloi cleared his one-game suspension in the opening match against Torino.

Impact Toloi will probably get the start in Saturday's home contest against Bologna, pushing either Jose Luis Palomino or Berat Djimsiti to the bench. He logged two goals, 51 tackles, 63 clearances and 33 interceptions in 31 matches last season.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remo Freuler - Available against Bologna Freuler served his one-game suspension in the opener.

Impact Freuler will likely stat in Saturday's home game against Bologna, replacing either Mario Pasalic or Matteo Pessina in the midfield. He registered 2 goals, three assists, 63 tackles and 39 interceptions in 34 games last season.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Musso - Concedes once against Torino Musso had six saves and one accurate keeper-sweeper and allowed one goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Musso had a strong debut with Atalanta, busting out multiple strong saves. He was beaten only by a deflected shot that had a weird trajectory. Atalanta will host Bologna Saturday.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jose Luis Palomino - Piles up stats against Torino Palomino had four blocks, three interceptions and nine clearances and won 16 duels in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Palomino stepped into a bigger role with Rafael Toloi suspended and led the backline. He still put together an impressive display even though they could not keep the clean sheet. The teammate will be back for Saturday's home game against Bologna, but Palomino will remain in the mix to start with the other defenders.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mario Pasalic - Sets up teammate in Torino match Pasalic had two blocks and two interceptions, won nine duels and provided an assist in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Pasalic played in a holding role for most of the match as Atalanta were very depleted in the midfield. He still contributed offensively, as he teed up Roberto Piccoli's game-winner with a little square ball in the box. Remo Freuler will be available in next Saturday's home game versus Atalanta, so Pasalic will no longer be guaranteed to start.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Roberto Piccoli - Bags late goal against Torino Piccoli took one shot, won one duel and scored a goal in seven minutes in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Piccoli made the most of his minutes by deciding the game for his side with a late tap-in point-blank range. He netted six goals in 20 games (eight starts) while on loan to Spezia last season. He could see more minutes next week, especially with Duvan Zapata still sidelined. Atalanta will host Bologna Saturday.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josip Ilicic - Provides assist against Torino Ilicic created two scoring chances, had two successful take-ons, won three duels and picked up an assist in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Ilicic was attributed a pretty generous assist as he slipped it to Luis Muriel before the teammates picked his way through defenders and fired it home from long range. He is set to see an uptick of playing time with Duvan Zapata hurt. He posted six goals and nine assists in 28 matches (17 starts) last season. Atalanta will host Bologna Saturday.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ruslan Malinovskyi - Quiet against Torino Malinovskyi took two shots (zero on target), sent in three crosses (one accurate), had four successful take-ons and won seven duels in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Malinovskyi picked up a good amount of peripheral stats, but he was not super sharp with his attempts and crosses. His pre-season was slowed down by groin surgery and it could take him a while to round into shape. However, Atalanta are short-handed up front, so he is set to see major minutes anyway. They will host Bologna Saturday.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Robin Gosens - Held in check by Torino Gosens took two shots (zero on target), created one scoring chance, won two of three tackles and drew one foul in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Gosens had a pair of major chances but was unable to break through in the opener as the opponents guarded him very closely. He posted 11 goals and six assists in the past campaign. Atalanta will host Bologna Saturday.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Luis Muriel - Scores and subs off against Torino Muriel took two shots (one on target), drew one foul, had three successful take-ons, scored a goal and bowed out early in the second half in Saturday's 2-1 win over Torino.

Impact Muriel broke the deadlock early with a tremendous solo action and left-footed scorcher from distance. However, he limped off ten minutes into the second half and coach Gasperini stated that he picked up a minor problem that will have to be assessed throughout the week. Atalanta will host Bologna Saturday.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Çalhanoğlu stars as Inter routs Genoa 4-0 in Serie A opener

New Inter Milan signing Hakan Çalhanoğlu scored one goal and set up another as the Nerazzurri got their Serie A title defense off to a winning start with a 4-0 win at home to Genoa

AUGUST 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ruslan Malinovskyi - Available versus Torino Malinovskyi (groin) has been named in Atalanta's squad list to face Torino Saturday.

Impact Malinovskyi was able to log few minutes in the final pre-season friendlies after missing most of the preparation due to groin surgery. His minutes might be capped, but he has a shot at starting since Atalanta are down multiple players between the midfield and the attack.

AUGUST 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Juventus, Inter, Milan lead Serie A contenders

The Italian soccer season begins Saturday with Juventus the favorite to regain its title while defending champion Inter Milan faces financial difficulties

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Duvan Zapata - Suffers knee sprain Zapata will miss the first two matches of the season due to a right knee sprain, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

Impact Zapata was held out of the final friendly and the tests revealed that the problem was significant. The report does not specify whether he sustained some structural damage, which would dilate the timetable. He will not be available for international duties in the first and is currently eyeing September 12th's game against Fiorentina for his return. Atalanta will lean heavily on Luis Muriel at the start of the season. Youngsters Roberto Piccoli and Sam Lammers could have decent roles early on too.

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hans Hateboer - Dealing with foot problems Hateboer is undergoing some tests and consulting with various specialists as he is again bothered by a metatarsal microfracture, Tuttomercatoweb reports.

Impact Hateboer missed extended time last season with the same problem, but it looks like it has not healed properly. He is considering having surgery on it, which would sideline him for months, and Atalanta are contemplating adding another right-back. The response should arrive before the opening match against Torino. In the meantime, Joakim Maehle will take care of the role and he is coming off a very strong Euro.

AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ruslan Malinovskyi - Close to returning Malinovskyi (groin) has been practicing regularly for a week, Atalanta informed.

Impact Malinovskyi underwent sports-hernia surgery at the beginning of July after the Euro. He has healed clinically, but he might need some time to be up to speed physically after missing most of the pre-season preparation. It will be up to the coach to decide whether he is in good enough shape to participate in the first couple of matches.

AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remo Freuler - Suspended for first game Freuler is out for the opening match against Torino due to a disqualification for yellow-card accumulation stemming from last season.

Impact Freuler will return in the second round against Bologna the following Saturday. Marten De Roon is missing as well, therefore Atalanta are down both starting midfielders. Matteo Pessina and Marco Pasalic will likely fill in.

AUGUST 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Tottenham signs Argentina defender Cristian Romero

Tottenham has signed center back Cristian Romero from Atalanta two weeks after securing goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini from the same Italian club

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Atalanta exercise Romero option ahead of defender's Tottenham transfer as Demiral joins on loan from Juventus ' Goal.com Atalanta have activated their option to buy Cristian Romero from Juventus to clear the defender to join Tottenham, while Merih Demiral has joined the Bergamo side on loan.

AUGUST 6, 2021 • GOAL.COM

Merih Demiral - Joins Atalanta on loan Demiral joined Atalanta on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Juventus on Friday.

Impact Demiral only made 15 league appearances (10 starts) last season and added five more appearances (three starts) in the UCL, and never really found a starting role in Turin. Now that he's found a club in need of central-defensive help, it wouldn't be surprising to see a substantial increase in his minutes, though it will still be on Demiral to earn his place in the lineup and make his temporary home a permanent one.

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE