Duván and Muriel command Atalanta’s win at UCL

Atalanta’s great debut in his second Champions League appearance. The Bergamo club, which had the Duván Zapata-Luis Muriel duo on the attack front, beat Midtjylland 0-4, a debutant in the group stage of this tournament, to reach the top of Group D, in which Liverpool beat Ajax (0-1).

Rainy night in Herning, Denmark, which began to be encouraged by the Colombians, after a warning from Sisto that went over the goal defended by Sportiello. The first of the visitor was in the still ball: Muriel’s free kick that forced Hansen’s save.

As the minutes passed, those led by Gian Piero Gasperini were consolidating in the rival field and finding connections to get closer to the area, such as a filtered ball for Duván’s diagonal that he defined with the right, but the post denied him the goal. The ‘9’ and ’91’ again had consecutive chances, one deflected and in the other Hansen appeared again to send her to the corner kick.

Duván, revenge and assistance

After crashing it against the post and Hansen blocked a shot, the revenge for the forward arrived at minute 26. Center from the right of Rafael Tolói for Romero to lower her head, leaving only Duván who had time to control and change his stick.

The locals were able to equalize the score, but Sportiello saved Dreyer’s shot and on the next play, Onyeka missed the goal on the second header inside Atalanta’s area, which extended the lead to 36 ‘, when Zapata left it served to Papu Gómez, who with a middle-distance right hand scored the second.

Muriel and a goal of ‘9’

Great collective play of the visit that included a pass back from Gosens to Duván, who had already participated in the open action on the left. The Colombian took a powerful right hand from outside the area that Hansen saved, but Attentive to the rebound was his compatriot Muriel to send it to the bottom [42′] and complete the goals of Gasperini’s offensive trident.

Atalanta lowered the pace and intensity in the second half and at 68 ‘Gasperini began with the modifications to refresh the offensive zone and take care of some key pieces like Papu and Muriel, For those who entered Pasalic and Ilicic, the latter with one of the clearest in the second half, but his left-handed definition managed to deviate at the goalkeeper and hit the post.

10 minutes from the end, the great figure of the game came out: Duván left his place to Miranchuk, who near the end sealed the 0-4 with a great goal: left-handed control and shot from the edge of the area. Pure Russian technique to beat Hansen.

What’s coming

Some changes could have the club of Bergamo this Saturday, October 24 when I receive Sampdoria at Gewiss Stadium, taking into account that next week (27th of this month) will be local to Ajax for the second day of the Champions League. Meanwhile, Midtjylland will visit Liverpool at Anfield.