UEFA Youth League Trabzonspor 5-3 Atalanta on penalties
The Nerazzurri's European campaign ends in the round of 16
Curtains fall on Atalanta's journey in the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League as the Round of 16 tie saw hosting side Trabzonspor run out winners at the ŞenolGüneş Spor Kompleksi, earning their spot in the quarterfinals on penalties.
The tie kicked off at full throttle, with both teams coming out swinging and in full attack mode from the onset. Although the hosts threatened first with number 17 Turan, Atalanta came agonizingly close to taking the lead with a boisterous right-flanked effort from Baldo. Not long after, Bonanomi had a golden chance to put the Nerazzurri ahead, only to be tipped out for a corner with a top-drawer save from the opposing keeper. As coach Bosi's lads kept on laying siege on the hosts, Atalanta's retaliation almost panned out as Mencaraglia came but a breath away from finding the back of the net: right before the break the long-range strike unleashed by the black-and-blue number 14 cannoned off the crossbar. With neither team able to break the deadlock, the first half ended with a stalemate in Trabzon.
At the start of the second half, Zanchi came to the Nerazzurri's rescue, staving off the breakthrough goal with a crucial save. Just like the first half, Mencaraglia kept testing the opposing goalie with ranged effort before he had the clearest chance of the game on 70 minutes, only to be cleared off the line by the Turkish defence. In stoppage time, while Comi thwarted Erdoğan with a vital clearance, Arrigoni saw his right-footed shot from the edge of the box parried away by the Turkish keeper. As regulation time ended in a 0-0 deadlock and the match moved on to penalties, Trabzonspor came out on top of the shootout.
TRABZONSPOR 5-3 ATALANTA after penalties
Scorers: -
Penalty shoot-out: Malkoçoğlu (T) goal, Simonetto (A) goal, Çakiroğlu (T) goal, Bono (A) goal, Terzi (T) goal, Cakolli (A) saved, Karahan (T) goal, Comi (A) goal, Tibukoğlu (T) goal.
Trabzonspor: Yildirim, Ince, Tibukoğlu, Erdoğan, Duymaz (Terzi 78), Malkoçoğlu, Turan (Alkurt 69), Çakiroğlu, Öztürk, Yilmaz, Bayram (Karahan 88). Unused bench: Aktaş, Özcan, Sarialioğlu, Ateş, Tuncer, Babat. Coach: Eyüp Saka.
Atalanta: Zanchi, Ghezzi (Gobbo 72), Bonanomi (Cakolli 72), Mencaraglia (Bono 84), Baldo, Steffanoni, Bonsignori Goggi (Simonetto 46), Arrigoni, Ramaj, Comi, Fiogbe (Gariani 72). Unused bench: Sala, Bugli, Galafassi, Camara. Coach: Giovanni Bosi.
Referee: Sander van der Eijk (NED). Assistant referees: Rens Bluemink (NED) and Stefan De Groot (NED). Fourth Official: İrfan Çağrı Baş (TUR).
Notes: Bonsignori Goggi (A), Turan (T), Ghezzi (A), Çakiroğlu (T), Ramaj (A) and Terzi (T) booked.