Atalanta denied three times by the post in 1-1 draw at Sporting CP

Atalanta and Sporting CP shared the spoils in the first leg of their 2023/24 UEFA Europa League last-16 tie, with the Nerazzurri equalising through Scamacca and hitting the post three times in a thrilling 1-1 draw at the Estadio José Alvalade in Lisbon.

After the game had taken an unwelcome turn when Paulinho put Sporting ahead in the 17th minute, Atalanta responded immediately, twice hitting the post within sixty seconds of each other in the 24th minute: Holm burst into the box and hit the inside of the post, while Scamacca then hit the post with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area. On 26 minutes, Éderson pressed high to win possession on the edge of the area and combined with Scamacca, but the Brazilian midfielder was then denied by the onrushing goalkeeper. On the half-hour mark, de Roon's shot from the edge of the area was tipped over the bar by the Sporting goalkeeper. The equaliser came in the 39th minute when Lookman latched onto a poor back-pass, Miranchuk intercepted Israel's clearance and Scamacca dribbled out of defence to slot home with his left foot. Scamacca himself almost gave Atalanta the lead in the 42nd minute when his header was fingertipped wide by the Sporting goalkeeper.

In the second half, Catamo tested Musso on 52 minutes, while the Nerazzurri were denied by the woodwork for the third time on the night in the 60th minute, when Lookman did well to break free from a crowd of defenders, only to see his shot deflect off the post. Two minutes later, Coates also hit the post with a header for Sporting. The Nerazzurri almost took the lead in the 75th minute when Kolasinac's header hit the post. Despite several chances, the first leg in Lisbon ended in a 1-1 draw.

SPORTING CP 1-1 ATALANTA

Scorers: Paulinho 17 (S), Scamacca 39 (A).

Sporting CP: Israel, Eduardo Quaresma, Coates, Diomande (St. Juste 46), Catamo, Koindredi (Hjulmand 46), Morita (Daniel Bragança 84), Matheus Reis, Edwards (Gyökeres 46), Paulinho (Ricardo Esgaio 69), Trincao. Unused bench: Diogo Pinto, Silva, Nuno Santos, Luis Neto, Fresneda, Pontelo, Quenda. Coach: Rúben Amorim.

Atalanta: Musso, Djimsiti, Hien (Scalvini 46), Kolašinac, Holm (Zappacosta 90), de Roon, Éderson, Ruggeri, Miranchuk (Koopmeiners 72), Scamacca (El Bilal 82), Lookman (De Ketelaere 72). Unused bench: Carnesecchi, Vismara, Toloi, Pašalić, Bakker, Adopo, Hateboer. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER); Assistant referees: Jan Seidel (GER) and Rafael Foltyn (GER); Fourth official: Daniel Schlager (GER); V.A.R.: Bastian Dankert (GER); A.V.A.R.: Christian Dingert (GER).

Notes: Hien (A), Edwards (S), Scalvini (A) and Djimsiti (A) booked.