Having seized Lisbon, not only have the Nerazzurri clinched their second consecutive win in the 2023-2024 UEFA Europa League but they have tightened their grips on the first place of Group D, leading with full points (6) ahead of Sporting CP and Sturm Graz (tied with 3 points each), and with Raków hanging up the rear with none.

Last night’s win was also a historic first for Atalanta, seizing the José Alvalade stadium for the first time after the 3-1 defeat suffered in 1963 and the 1-1 draw in the 1987–88 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Judging by the scoreboard, the capture of the Alvalade has “Academy” written all over it and bears the signatures of Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri, who joined Atalanta in 2015 and 2011 respectively. For the latter, last night’s goal was twice as momentous, having it been his first-ever senior goal for the Orobic Club. As reported by Stats Perform, with their goals against Sporting, Scalvini (aged 19 years and 298 days) and Ruggeri (aged 21 years and 86 days) have become Atalanta’s youngest and second-youngest scorers in major European tournaments (with the exclusion of qualifying matches).

As a further trivia courtesy of Stats Perform, on the grounds of the 6 wins and 2 draws claimed in their last 8 UEFA Europa League Group Stage matches between the 2017/18 and the 2023/24 seasons, not only are Atalanta still undefeated in the first stage of the UEL, but they have also become the team flaunting the longest unbeaten streak.