Gian Piero Gasperini, successful coach of Atalanta. © ANSA / MICHELE MARAVIGLIA
If you can handle Juventus, you don’t have to fear Atalanta Bergamo either. Or maybe it is? It is remarkable: despite their steep rise in recent years, the Lombards are still often underestimated by the general public.
06. November 2024
From: dpa
But not from Sebastian Hoeneß. Atalanta is currently “one of the biggest teams in Europe,” said the coach of VfB Stuttgart before the Champions League duel on Wednesday (9 p.m.). A team that is “washed in all waters”. The German champions and cup winners Bayer Leverkusen can also sing a song about it. “Something is coming to us,” warned Hoeneß.
He got insider tips from a striker who is currently under contract with both clubs: El Bilal Touré, who is on loan to Stuttgart from Atalanta. Of course he gave him advice, reported Hoeneß. Touré is particularly in focus on the fourth matchday of the premier class. But also in the starting line-up? Hoeneß praised, among other things, the 23-year-old’s versatility and explosiveness, which Italian journalists in particular asked about at the press conference before the game.
Germany’s runner-up Stuttgart (here with coach Sebastian Hoeneß) meets Atalanta. © ANSA / CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF
The VfB coach said he had “the greatest respect” for his colleague Gian Piero Gasperini. Since the now 66-year-old took over as coach in Bergamo in 2016, the Lombards have finished six of eight seasons in the top five of the Italian Serie A. Last season they won the Europa League with an impressive 3-0 win in the final against the otherwise completely unbeaten Leverkusen.
Atalanta has scored the most goals in the domestic league so far this season and hasn’t conceded a single one in the Champions League. The Italians have not lost in eight competitive games. They are impressive numbers. This team is “experienced, strong in duels, disciplined and mentally strong,” said Hoeneß. So he prefers to slip into the supposed outsider role with VfB.
CL: Wednesday’s games
Brugge – Aston Villa (18.45)
Donetsk – Young Boys
Bayern Munich – Benfica (9 p.m.)
Roter Stern – FC Barcelona
Feyenoord – Salzburg
Inter – Arsenal
PSG – Atletico Madrid
Sparta Prague – Brest
Stuttgart – Atalanta
