Atalanta have taken top spot in the Europa League group after being held to a draw by Sporting Lisbon.
Gianluca Scamacca had given the hosts the lead with a scorcher that was cancelled out by Marcus Edwards.

The Portuguese giant was looking for a win in order to top the group, but the woodwork denied them as a draw guarantees Atalanta.

La Dea had already qualified for the next round of the competition but needed a point to guarantee the top spot and avoid the playoffs.

Scamacca, who had been in top form this season, scored after six minutes on an Ademola Lookman through ball but didn’t celebrate, knowing he wandered offside.

A huge opportunity came Sporting’s way when Viktor Gyokeres spun Berat Djimsiti and cut inside Sead Kolasinac for a shot that skimmed the base of the far post.

Scamacca finally got his goal after he successfully sprung the offside trap on the Teun Koopmeiners pass. The Italian striker scored a right-foot screamer from 20 metres, bending Antonio Adan’s glove.

The Portuguese wanted it more as Pedro Goncalves was clear on goal from Gyokeres’ pass but wasted the opportunity with a weak dinked finish that was like a back-pass to Juan Musso.

Both sides wasted big chances straight after the restart, but Sporting were closer to securing an equaliser.

Marcus Edwards, who was involved in a car crash during the week, was denied from close range by Musso, while Scamacca fired wide from an open goal when Ederson rolled a cross to him as he insisted on getting it onto his right foot.

Edwards finally restored parity for the visitors moments later with a well-worked move. He completed the give-and-go with Gyokeres to beat Musso one-on-one.

Ederson released an angled drive that flashed just past the far post as none of his teammates made the run to meet it.
Sporting almost turned it around, but luck was not on their side as Pedro Goncalves’ finish from an Edwards’ assist beat Musso, bounced off the inside of the upright, rolled along the line, and backed out off the other post.

Another huge opportunity came the way of Pedro Goncalves when he sprung the offside trap, beating the on-rushing Musso, only to prod wide of the far post.