In a dominant display, Atalanta secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in their UEFA Champions League match played at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. This win marks a significant milestone for Atalanta, who have now accumulated four points from their first two matches in the competition.
The match saw Atalanta take control from the outset, with Ademola Lookman emerging as the standout performer. Lookman provided the assist for the opening goal, which was scored by Berat Djimsiti in the 21st minute. Djimsiti's goal was his first in the Champions League, and it came after he skillfully converted Lookman's cross from close range.
Atalanta continued to press and nearly doubled their lead through Lazar Samardi, who saw his effort deflected wide, and Charles De Ketelaere, who blasted off target. However, it was Lookman who scored the second goal just before halftime, finishing a well-worked move with a precise shot into the far bottom corner. This goal was also Lookman's first in the Champions League.
The second half saw no respite for Shakhtar Donetsk as Atalanta scored their third goal just three minutes after the restart. Raoul Bellanova headed in a cross from Davide Zappacosta to seal the victory for the Italian side. This was Bellanova's first goal for Atalanta since his summer transfer from Torino.
Despite Shakhtar's attempts to get back into the game, including a close chance by substitute Yukhym Konoplia, they were unable to breach Atalanta's solid defense. Atalanta's goalkeeper, Marco Carnesecchi, had a relatively quiet evening as his team controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities.
The victory was marred by injuries for Atalanta, with Berat Djimsiti forced off at halftime due to a hip injury and Odilon Kossounou limping off later in the game. However, these setbacks did not deter Atalanta from their dominant performance, which was characterized by their attacking prowess and defensive solidity.
This win places Atalanta in a strong position in their Champions League group, with a goal difference of +3 after two matches. The result underscores Atalanta's ability to compete at the highest level of European football, even in the face of significant injury concerns.
Shakhtar Donetsk, on the other hand, remain without a victory in their last nine encounters against Italian opposition, highlighting the need for significant improvement if they are to avoid early elimination from the competition.
