Atalanta seeks confirmation of historic placement in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Form, absenteeism, empty stands and the result of the first game favor the guests from Italy.
Atalanta have taken a huge step towards making the Champions League quarter-finals by declaring Valencia at Milan's San Siro. As many as four goals were scored by Gasperini's team in the first hour of the game, but after that brilliantly done period, she paused and spoiled the impression in the final. Valencia shook Gollini's net only once through Cheryshev in that match, but had several excellent opportunities to completely complicate the situation before the return game in Spain. In return, they will play in front of the empty stands because of the coronavirus epidemic in Italy.
There is little that Valencia does in the face of a new feud with Atalant. The Italians have excellent results from the first game, incomparably better form, but also much less problems with absences. The Celades squad has not been brilliant in recent weeks, and this is best illustrated by the fact that Valencia has recorded only one victory in the last seven official matches, as well as four defeats. Valencia dropped out of the Cup, are on the verge of relegation from the Champions League, and in the Championship are slowly losing pace to competitors in the fight for European positions and currently occupy the seventh position on the La Liga table.
Celades is optimistic about the return game against Atalanta:
- We are preparing for the match in the best way possible. We are strong at home, and the result of the first game is not a true reflection of what was happening on the field. I do not think at all that we need a miracle to break through to the next round of competition.
The absenteeism situation is far from ideal for Celades, who will not be able to use suspended defender Gabriel, his last-line counterparts Garay, Piccini, Mangalu and Jaume Costa in this match, and the injured Manu Vallejo and Maxi Gomez. Another problem for the home coach is a knee injury to important striker Rodrigo, but he should still play from the first minute with Gameir at the top of Valencia's 4-4-2 formation.
Atalanta has had five wins and a points division with Geno in the last six official games, and impressive is the fact that during that period, Gasperini's team shook the rival network 24 times. This season, Atalanta players in Serie A have shaken rival networks 70 times, scoring as many as 10 goals more than Lazio and 20 more than Juventus leaders with one game less. Bergamo provincial goddesses are once again seen in the back by greats such as Rome, Napoli and Milan, and the club, which is growing year by year under Gasperini, would once again have to play among the European football elite. Fatigue is definitely not going to be a problem for the guests in this match, because of the coronavirus epidemic they did not play at the weekend, so they can fully focus on the Champions League.
Gasperini expects confirmation of passage to the quarter-finals of the Champions League: - It is clear that the result of the first game raises our confidence. We have to score in Valencia, but we also need to stay focused on defense. The psychological aspect of our game is that we are working to get a good performance. We must not assume that the work has already been done because it is not truly true. We were great in the first game, but there is no celebration until it ends in return.
Unlike the hosts, guests in the strongest squad await the return game of the eighth Champions League final, as the performance of the only experienced defender Toloi, who has muscle problems, is questionable. The Gasperins will use their favorite 3-4-2-1 formation with Gomez and Ilicic behind offensive Zapata striker, while Muriel and Pasalic against Valencia should play the role of a bench press.
Valencia CF (ESP) - Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio (ITA)
Referee: Ovidiu Alin Hategan (ROU) 5,07 % cards
