Atalanta ended a five-match winless streak with a dominant 5-0 win over Sturm Graz at home in the UEFA Champions League, ensuring Italian teams extended their unbeaten run against Austrian sides to 15 matches.
The visitors had just one shot in the first half, which should have been a goal. Amady Camara did well to cut inside but shot wide of the near post, highlighting why he hasn’t scored in nine matches. Meanwhile, Mateo Retegui continued his excellent form for Atalanta, scoring his third goal in three games by tapping in from a Davide Zappacosta cross. Atalanta controlled the game from there, and Zappacosta nearly scored himself, curling a shot just over the top corner.
Retegui had a chance for a second goal, but his diving header from a corner went over the bar. Atalanta kept pressing in the second half, with goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen making a save from Sead Kolašinac’s shot. Atalanta thought they had scored again when Charles De Ketelaere’s goal was ruled offside due to Ademola Lookman being offside in the build-up.
Lookman then hit the post and had another shot saved by Scherpen before Atalanta doubled their lead. Mario Pašalić scored from a Juan Cuadrado cross, and soon after, De Ketelaere scored his 11th goal of the season from a corner. Lookman had another chance but fired over the bar after a brilliant Cuadrado assist.
Zappacosta had another goal ruled out for offside late on, but Lookman made sure of the win with a header just before stoppage time. Marco Brescianini added a fifth goal, slotting in after the ball fell to him in the box. Atalanta moved up to third in their UCL group, while Sturm Graz were eliminated from European competition.
