Sponsor League, Year 5: the breakdown of MD1
Back on the pitch on Monday, May 13
With the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia as the designated stage, the Nerazzurri's renowned headquarters have been chosen to host the qualifying heats of the Sponsor league, the football tournament arranged by Atalanta B.C. for their sponsors and business partners, currently at its fifth edition.
In breaking with tradition, the fifth run of the black-and-blue B2B championship will see nine teams, arranged in three groups of 3 sides each, face off in a double-leg tie.
The first legs took place on Monday 6 May: below is how they unfolded.
GROUP A Habilita 3-0 Effeci Tecnoimpianti Atalanta 0-1 Habilita Effeci Tecnoimpianti 0-3 Atalanta
STANDINGS: Habilita 6 points, Atalanta 3, Effeci Tecnoimpianti 0
GROUP B Brembo 4-0 Tao Ambiente IT Core 0-1 Brembo Tao Ambiente 0-1 IT Core
STANDINGS: Brembo 6 points, IT Core 3, Tao Ambiente 0
GROUP C Sacbo 2-0 Tenaris Dalmine Spider Lineevita 1-1 Sacbo Tenaris Dalmine 0-1 Spider Lineevita
STANDINGS: Sacbo and Spider Lineevita 4 points, Tenaris Dalmine 0
The return games are scheduled for Monday, May 13. With each Group Winner and runner-up making it to the knockout phase, the semifinals will take place on May 13 right after the return legs: namely, while the first semi-final has the best overall runner-up pitted against the Group C winner, the second tie will have Group A and Group B winners face off for a place in the Grand Final.