Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has praised his team for a top performance away at Portugal after securing a 2-1 win at Sporting Lisbon in their Europa League matchday two clash.

The tactician noted that his lads would be right up there if they maintained their current form, as seen in their first-half performance.

La Dea dominated their host in the first half and took a 2-0 lead going into the break. The positives were that both goals were from Giorgio Scalvini and Matteo Ruggeri, academy products.

Atalanta had the chance to extend their lead but failed to convert those chances that almost haunted them as Sporting came back into the clash with a Viktor Gyokeres penalty. All thanks also to two Juan Musso fingertip saves, which were decisive.

Commending their first-half performance, the tactician wants his lads to be more precise, adding that they would’ve killed off the game much earlier.

Gasperini further told Sky Sport Italia that it is dangerous at the international level to leave the match open as Atalanta lost intensity, and the penalty sparked Sporting into life.

This performance was similar to Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Juventus; the only difference was the scoreline, as they did not make all that pressure count with goals.

While noting that the team is in a good period of form and is improving, Gasperini said they need to do better in battle.

Gianluca Scamacca returned to action from the bench after an injury layoff bench and looked rather rusty, while Ademola Lookman was a constant threat but also far from clinical.

The gaffer is challenging the Nigerian striker, who created many dangerous situations in the game, to replicate last season’s goal tally.

The win takes Atalanta to the group’s top with 6 points, having won their first match.
They are followed by Sporting and Sturm Graz on three, while Champions of Poland Rakow still