Points were shared on matchday 3 of the 2023-2024 UEFA Europa League Group D, as Atalanta drew 2-2 against Sturm Graz at the Stadion Graz Liebenau-Merkur Arena through Muriel’s brace.

While the hosts got off to a strong start, as they opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Prass’ effort took an unfortunate deflection off Toloi and Musso had to fly to punch away Stankovic’s header, Lookman had a go with a fierce finish that was charged down by Kiteishvili. The Nerazzurri levelled the score in the 33 minutes when Muriel dribbled past a defender to beat Sherpen by prodding into the far bottom corner. After Sturm Graz threatened through Kiteishvili’s header from midfield on 40 minutes, the Nerazzurri turned the game around in stoppages, as Zappacosta’s shot took a deflection off Stankovic’s arm. After a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot kick and Muriel converted the penalty that gave Atalanta the lead.

At the restart, Muriel came close to scoring a hat-trick when Shepen parried the Colombian’s effort with his foot before Sturm went down to 10 men on 52 minutes as Hierlander was shown a second yellow card for tugging Ruggeri’s shirt. In the 72nd minute, De Ketelaere spread it for Hateboer in the 72nd minute, with the Dutchman firing off target and Scamacca’s 75th-minute free-kick skimmed the top corner. After Hateboer came to the rescue by blocking Boving’s effort that was going in, Wlodarczyk converted an 80th-minute equalising penalty that was awarded after a VAR review for a Kolašinac handball. The final minutes saw the Nerazzurri go full attack mode: Scamacca made his way through the defence on 87 minutes but fired over with his right foot, then Bakker tested Sherpen with a 96th-minute shot-cross. However, in spite of the final forcing, the scoreline remained unchanged. With this draw, the Nerazzurri remain leaders of Group D with 7 points, three points ahead of second-placed pair Sporting and Sturm.

Come tomorrow, Friday 27 October, Gasperini’s men will get straight back to work with a morning session behind closed doors at the Bortolotti Centre to kick off preparations for the trip to Empoli.

SK STURM GRAZ 2-2 ATALANTA

Scorers: Toloi own goal 13 (A), Muriel 34, pen 45+7 (A), Wlodarczyk pen 80 (SG)

SK Sturm Graz: Sherpen, Gazibegovic, Affenguber, Wuthrich (Lavalee 62), Dante, Hierlander, Stankovic, Prass (Boving 70), Kiteishvili (Javi Serrano 62), Sarkaria (Horvat 77), Jatta (Wlodarczyk 61).
Subs: Maric, Obi, Johnston, Borkovic, Teixeira, Schnegg, Fuseini.
Coach: Christian Ilzer.

Atalanta: Musso, Toloi (Scalvini 81), Djimsiti, Kolašinac, Zappacosta (Bakker 77), de Roon, Éderson, Ruggeri (Hateboer 63), Koopmeiners, Lookman (De Ketelaere 63), Muriel (Scamacca 63).
Subs: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Holm, Pašalić, Adopo, Bonfanti, Miranchuk.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Duje Strukan (CRO).
Assistant referees: Bojan Zobenica (CRO) and Alen Jakšić (CRO).
4th Official: Dario Bel (CRO)
V.A.R.: Ivan Bebek (CRO).
A.V.A.R.: Nejc Kajtazovic (SVN).

Notes: Hierländer (SG) sent off on 52 minutes after receiving a second yellow card; Kiteishvili (SG), Lookman (A) and Bakker (A) booked.