UEFA Youth League: Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 Atalanta
Baldo and Mouisse on the scoresheet for the Nerazzurri
On matchday 5 of the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League, it was the hosts who ran out 3-2 winners at the Sportpark Dreieich.
It was a lively contest right from the first whistle, with chances falling at both ends. The Nerazzurri nearly struck first when Baldo caught Cakolli’s delivery on the volley, forcing the hosts into an early scare. Anelli then kept Atalanta in it with a couple of big stops — first denying Gaul Souza’s left-footed strike from range, then getting down well to push away Džanović’s curling effort moments later. Bosi’s lads kept threatening, but it was the hosts who drew first blood in the 27th minute through Staff. The Nerazzurri looked to hit straight back, with Mencaraglia trying his luck from distance, while Gaul Souza almost doubled Frankfurt's lead just before the break, only to see his effort drift wide.
The Nerazzurri hit back almost immediately after the restart, drawing level as Baldo coolly buried the penalty he’d earned in the 48th minute. Ilicevic then forced Anelli into another save from distance, before the hosts regained the lead on the hour mark through Staff. But Atalanta refused to throw in the towel, and Mouisse dragged them level again in the 87th minute, slotting home at the far post after a pinpoint delivery from Percassi on the right. Just when the Nerazzurri looked to have salvaged a result, Staff completed his hat-trick at the death, sealing a 3–2 win for the German side.
EINTRACHT FRANKFURT 3-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Staff 27, 60, 90 (EF), Baldo pen 48 (A), Mouisse 87 (A)
Eintracht Frankfurt: Siljevic, Spahn, Fenyő, Is (Eisele 46), Staff, Džanović, Gual Souza, Neuendorff (Ayadi 46), Ahouannou (Prenaj 55), Ilicevic, Boakye Osei. Unused bench: Möhler, Peter, Gebhardt, Tsiokos, Bouvier, Ay. Coach: Alexander Maier.
Atalanta: Anelli, Maffessoli (Percassi 46), Ramaj, Mencaraglia (Bono 77), Cakolli, Artesani (Mouisse 64), Baldo, Valdivia, Gasparello, Isoa, Leandri (Aliprandi 35). Unused bench: Sonzogni, Villa, Rinaldi, Colombo, Michieletto. Coach: Giovanni Bosi.
Referee: Gal Levi (ISR). Assistant referees: Daniel Ben-Hur (ISR) and Abdallah Azem (ISR). Fourth official: Felix Pigan (GER).
Notes: Spahn (EF), Gasparello (A), Ramaj (A), Valdivia (A) and Boakye Osei (EF) booked.
On the cover is Valdivia (archive photo)