‘The mythical goddess!’ Italian press hail the ‘miracle’ of Atalanta’s Champions League heroics as they progress to knockout stages despite losing first three games
- Atalanta have qualified for Champions League knockout stages for first time
- Gian Piero Gasperini’s side beat Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the last 16
- Press in Italy heaped praise on club for Wednesday’s magnificent achievement
- Atalanta lost their first three games of the group before a remarkable turnaround
Atalanta were hailed as a ‘mythical goddess’ by La Gazzetta dello Sport as the Italian press lavished praise on the club for reaching the Champions League last 16.
Wednesday night’s 3-0 victory away against Shakhtar Donetsk capped a remarkable turnaround for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side after they lost the opening three games of the group stage.
In the the club’s first campaign at Europe’s top table, Atalanta finished ahead of the Ukrainian side and Dinamo Zagreb to reach the knockout stage.
The Gazzetta dello Sport was among the Italian papers to lavish praise on Atalanta
There were great celebrations at full time after Atalanta sealed a place in the last 16
With Inter Milan bowing out, Atalanta joined Juventus as the Italian representatives in the tournament and were rightly given plenty of acclaim back home.
The club nicknamed as ‘La Dea’ (The Goddess) featured on the front pages of Gazzetta, Tuttosport and QS.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s front page feautured the words: ‘Atalanta get the job done in the Champions League: they’re in the last 16.
‘They write history by dominating Shakhtar in 3-0 win, with goals from Castagne, Pasalic and Gosens.
‘Now they could face either Liverpool, Barcelona or PSG.’
Tuttosport played on the mythical element and called the club ‘Divine!’ on their front page
Tuttosport’s headline was ‘Divine!’, again playing on the mythical theme, adding: ‘Legendary achievement, which seemed impossible after defeats in the first three games.’
And QS ran with: ‘Miracle of Gasperini, Goddess in paradise’.
Nerves were frayed in Ukraine for supporters of the Italian side but Timothy Castagne’s second half goal put them in charge. Mario Pasalic and Robin Gosens put the result beyond doubt to spark huge celebrations.
Fans banged on the team bus as they greeted the team bus upon arrival back home
Supporters partied long into the night and set off flares in the Bergamo city
‘Miracle Gasp, goddess in paradise’, was the headline for Quotidiano Sportivo
The team were welcomed back to the city in Bergamo by a mass show of support with fans crammed around the bus, setting off flares and chanting long into the night.
And after the game, Gasperini was asked whether he genuinely thought the team could progress after following their disastrous start.
He reflected: ‘At the halfway point, we did believe, because there was a draw in the other match (between Shakhtar Donetsk and Dinamo Zagreb).
‘We then drew with Manchester City, the team was clearly improving. We felt the fact Shakhtar scored to make it 3-3 with Zagreb at the 98th minute was a sign of destiny. Of course, Manchester City’s result this evening in Zagreb was also very important.’
Supporters who made the trip out to Ukraine were rewarded with a magnificent achievement