3-0 triumph over Shakhtar to claim our first UCL League Phase win
Djimsiti, Lookman and Bellanova on target
The Veltins-Arena game saw the Nerazzurri clinch their first historic win in the new UEFA Champions League format: thanks to their 3-0 on-the-road triumph in Gelsenkirchen on MD2, Atalanta have moved up to 4 points in the 2024-2025 League Phase standings.
After the first chance came on 12 minutes with Lookman (an angled drive following Samardžić's through pass), Atalanta eventually broke the deadlock on 21 minutes through Djimsiti, who gave Atalanta the lead after Éderson's brush as he chested the ball before flicking it on the volley. Samardžić then tried his luck on 25 minutes, when he dribbled his way into the box but saw his chance deflected out by the opposing defence. Two more Atalanta attempts in close succession, first in the 32nd minute with De Ketelaere, who witnessed his effort balloon to the side, before Lookman smacked the crossbar with his 39-minute instep finish on Bellanova's cross. After another attempt by De Ketelaere (a header eventually parried by Riznyk), the visitors doubled their lead on 44 minutes: after gathering Kolašinac's cross from the left, Lookman made it 2-0 with a clinical instep kick in the heart of the box.
The second half opened up with a chance each: while Konoplia finished wide, the Nerazzurri made it 3-0 on 49 minutes instead. From one wingback to the other, Zappacosta "combed out" the ball goalward and found Bellanova, who headed it into the net to make it 3-0. Zappacosta then one-upped Atalanta's counter as his angled drive crashed on the woodwork on 52 minutes. Then Lookman finished wide in the 54th. On the hour, Samardžić had his left-footed shot from the edge of the box denied by the opposing keeper. It was then Zaniolo who threatened in the 66th, with the ball floating a hair over the bar. As the final whistle filled the air at the Veltins-Arena, the Nerazzurri put the golden brooch on their 3-0 win.
SHAKTHAR DONETSK 0-3 ATALANTA
Scorer: Djimsiti 20 (A), Lookman 44 (A), Bellanova 48 (A).
Shakhtar Donetsk: Riznyk, Bondar, Ghram (Konoplia 46), Matviyenko, Gomes (Kevin 63), Kryskiv, Stepanenko (Bondarenko 63), Pedro Henrique, Sudakov, Zubkov (Newertton 76), Eguinaldo (Traoré 63). Unused subs: Fesiun, Franjic, Shved, Azarov, Tobias, Nazaryna, Pedrinho. Allenatore: Marino Pušić.
Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Kossounou (Godfrey 84), Djimsiti (Pašalić 46), Kolašinac, Bellanova (Cuadrado 76), de Roon, Éderson, Zappacosta, Samardžić, De Ketelaere (Zaniolo 60), Lookman (Retegui 60). Unused subs: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Palestra, Comi, Manzoni, Vlahović, Del Lungo. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: João Pinheiro (POR);
Assistant referees: Bruno Jesus (POR) and Luciano Maia (POR).
Fourth official: João Gonçalves (POR);
V.A.R.: Tiago Martins (POR);
A.V.A.R.: Bastian Dankert (GER).
Notes: Ghram (S), Zaniolo (A), Gasperini (A) and Éderson (A) booked.