Atalanta’s 2020-2021 UEFA Champions League campaign starts with a wonderful 4-0 win against Midtjylland at the MCH Arena in Herning on Group D matchday 1.
The game was played in freezing rain and the Nerazzurri came out in the distance. The first chances came off Gosens and Muriel, but the best one was on 16 with Zapata whose fierce shot smacked the post. Zapata was then denied on 24 by Hansen, but the Colombian finally broke the deadlock on 26 when Romero nodded it back towards him and the striker gave the Nerazzurri the lead by scoring that pass. Sportiello denied Dreyer on 34 and two minutes later Gomez gathered from Zapata and unleashed a rocket from distance who hit the underside of the bar to beat Hansen. Before halftime, Gosens finish was only parried by Hansen and Muriel scored the rebound to give the Nerazzurri a 3-0 lead.
In the second half Gomez and his teammates managed their lead with ease, with substitutes Pašalić and Iličić who almost scored a fourth between 72 and 75, both blocked by the goalkeeper. But the 4-0 arrived on 89 and it was a jewel of Miranchuk who scored a wonderful goal on debut (left-foot curler into the far top corner assisted by Iličić) and thus closed the away game against the Danes.
MIDTJYLLAND 0-4 ATALANTA
Goals: Zapata 26 (A), Gomez 36 (A), Muriel 42 (A), Miranchuk 89 (A)
Midtjylland: Hansen, Andersson, Sviatchenko, Scholz, Paulinho, Onyeka (Kraev 86), Cajuste (Madsen 76), Dreyer, Sisto (Anderson 86), Mabil (Vibe 76), Kaba (Evander 61). Bench: Ottesen, M. Andersen, Cools, Manjrekar, Dyhr, Isaksen, Sery. Coach: Brian Priske.
Atalanta: Sportiello, Toloi, Romero (Palomino 86), Djimsiti, Hateboer, de Roon, Freuler (Pessina 80), Gosens, Gomez (Pašalić 68), Muriel (Iličić 68), Zapata (Miranchuk 80). Bench: Rossi, Lammers, Mojica, Depaoli, Ruggeri. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Artur Dias (POR).
Assistants: Rui Tavares (POR) and Paulo Soares (POR).
Fourth official: Joāo Pinheiro (POR).
V.A.R. Tiago Martins (POR).
A.V.A.R. Luis Godinho (POR).
Notes: Sisto (M), Romero (A) booked.
