Atalanta seize Stuttgart courtesy of Lookman-Zaniolo duo

Thanks to goals by Lookman and Zaniolo an otherwise undefeated MPHArena fell under the black-and-blue siege: with the Nerazzurri imposing themselves 2-0 over hosting side Stuttgart at the end of the 2024-2025 UCL League Phase MD4, Atalanta have climbed up to 8 points in the general chart whilst keeping the clean sheet once again.

A hotly-contested affair, neither team spared anything on the pitch from the get-go. Atalanta had the first chance of the game on 8 minutes when his right footer hissed inches off target. The home side retaliated three minutes later with Rouault, who nodded high over the crossbar. On 30 minutes Pašalić cut through the box before being knocked down following a scramble with Mittelstadt: the referee waved play on. The first half closed with a goal chance each: after Undav scruffled the finish from point-blank range, Retegui saw his header blocked by Nubel.

The deadlock was finally broken in the opening of the second half through a quick counter: after snatching the ball on the offensive third Kossounou played on for De Ketelaere who, upon wreaking havoc on the right flank, sidhed out a pinpoint pass for Lookman, who only had to tap it in. The hosts retaliated in the nick of time with Demirovic, forcing Djimsiti's last-ditch save to deflect the Bosnian's point-blank finish out for a corner. Atalanta almost doubled their lead on 73 minutes: Zappacosta's cross from the left side found De Ketelaere, who saw his header smothered at the second attempt by Nubel. Despite Stuttgart's forcing in the closing minutes, Atalanta killed the game off on 88 minutes: upon lunging on De Roon's through pass, Zaniolo imposed himself in the mano-a-mano to make it 2-0 for the Nerazzurri.

STUTTGART 0-2 ATALANTA

Scorer: Lookman 51 (A), Zaniolo 88 (A).

Stuttgart: Nubel, Vagnoman, Chase (Stenzel 81), Rouault, Mittelstadt, Karazor (Rieder 74), Stiller, Millot, Undav (Demirovic 56), Fuhrich (Chabot 74), Touré Touré (Malanga 81). Unused subs: Bredlow, Seimen, Al-Dakhil, Keitel, Kratzig, Stergiou. Coach: Sebastian Hoeness.

Atalanta: Carnesecchi, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolašinac (Kossounou 13), Bellanova (Ruggeri 85), de Roon, Éderson, Zappacosta, Pašalić (De Ketelaere 46), Retegui (Zaniolo 69), Lookman (Brescianini 85). Unused subs: Rui Patrício, Rossi, Toloi, Godfrey, Cuadrado, Samardžić, Palestra. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Rade Obrenovič (SVN);
Assistant referees: Matej Žunič (SVN) and Manuel Vidali (SVN);
Fourth official: David Šmajc (SVN);
V.A.R.: Clay Ruperti (NED);
A.V.A.R.: Pol van Boekel (NED).

Notes: Chase (S), Hien (A), Éderson (A), Demirovic (S) and Bellanova (A) booked.