Champions League: Atalanta Bergamo wants to save the honor of Italian football

Atalanta Bergamo faces Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday night (return leg on March 18). Following the eliminations of Juventus, Inter Milan, and Napoli, Atalanta is the surprising final Italian representative in the Champions League.

They have been waiting for this for over five years. A great Champions League matchup, in a double-header, hasn’t happened since the 2020-2021 season when they were defeated in the round of 16 by Real Madrid. After overturning Borussia Dortmund in the playoffs (4-3 aggregate), Raffaele Palladino’s men are getting ready to challenge the second big German team, Bayern Munich. In addition to facing a huge challenge, the players from Atalanta will have the additional pressure of representing Italian football. “It’s a matter of pride to fly the Italian flag high,” says Nicola Zalewski, midfielder.

Without Inter, Juventus, and Napoli, Italian football is at stake

Atalanta Bergamo also struggled in their Champions League playoff. Napoli sadly finished 30th in the first phase, Juventus couldn’t overturn Galatasaray in the playoffs after a disastrous first leg (5-2), and Inter Milan, the last finalist, was surprised by a brilliant Bodo Glimt team. Only Atalanta managed to advance despite a first leg that seemed to have condemned Italy’s chances (2-0) against Dortmund.

In case of elimination against Bayern, there might not be any Italian team in the quarter-finals for the third time in the last five editions, a worrying record that also echoes the situation of the national team. Absent from the previous two editions, the Squadra Azzura will play in the playoffs next March against Northern Ireland and then against the winner of Wales-Bosnia, in an attempt to finally return to the world’s biggest football competition.

Atalanta believes more than ever

Although Atalanta Bergamo’s season has been challenging since the departure of the iconic Gian Piero Gasperini (7th in Serie A), they are still a team not to be underestimated and one that “never gives up,” insists Nicolas Zalewski. This team came a long way against Dortmund, and their last two games in Serie A reflect this. Two draws (against Lazio and Udinese) slipped away in the final moments.

Despite losing Ademola Lookman, the 2024 Europa League winners have found Charles de Ketelaere, who is finally flourishing, and Gianluca Scamacca, who can’t stop scoring. Bayern Munich remains the clear favorite in this double-header, being well ahead in the Bundesliga with impressive stats (92 goals in 25 league matches). But the Bavarians will have to watch out for the Italians who have been waiting for this moment for five years.