Atalanta Paksa Sporting Lakoni Play-offs Europa League

Debutant Atalanta Giovanni Bonfanti celebrated a goal against Rakow Czechowa in the Europa League. (X/@Atalanta_BC)

Atalanta had no trouble defeating the Czestochowa 4-0 Rakow in the last match of Group D of the Europa League at the Zaglebie Sports Park Stadium, Friday, December 15 in the morning WIB. Atalanta also forced Sporting CP to play the play-offs before getting a ticket to the last 16.

Atalanta competed with Sporting to win the group in the final match of the preliminary round.

However, Atalanta was a little over the wind despite playing an away match against Rakow who was at the bottom of the standings.

Moreover, they just need a draw. But Italian Serie A club remains wary. The reason is, Sporting, who is a competitor to Atalanta, acts as host by hosting Sturm Graz.

However, Atalanta was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief because she was able to overcome the pressure to win that crucial match. They had no trouble overcoming the Ranow.

The landslide victory solidified La Dea's position at the top of the standings with 14. They appeared as group winners because they were three points ahead with Sporting and made sure to qualify automatically for the round of 16.

Meanwhile, Sporting, who was ranked second, was forced to play play-offs against the Champions League third-placed team.

It is not an easy matter for this Portuguese club because potential opponents cannot be taken lightly and can hinder their pace to the last 16 of the Europa League.

In that match striker Luis Muriel scored a brace for Atalanta. He had to wait until the 14th minute to break into the Rakow goal after receiving a pass from Aleksei Miranchuk. Furthermore, the visitors managed to add a goal when Giovanni Bonfanti's debutant scored in the 26th minute. This goal started with Atalanta's corner which created chaos in front of the Rakow goal.

The 20-year-old, who first entered the senior team, managed to control the ball. He immediately fired a shot into the net.

Rakow had a good chance to reduce the lag. But the chances obtained by Lukasz Zwolinski failed to convert into goals after his shot was cleared. The score remains 2-0 for Atalanta when the first 45 minutes ended.

In the second half, Atalanta did not lower pressure on the Polish team's defense.

In the early minutes, Muriel had a chance after escaping the offside trap and just dealing with goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic. Unfortunately his shot is still wide.

Furthermore, Atalanta had a good chance through Miranchuk. But again, he couldn't maximize the opportunity well.

Rakow himself had threatened Atalanta's goal. It's just that Lukasz Zwolinski's header is still soaring.

Likewise Adnan Kovacevic and Ante Crnac had a corner. Their efforts still failed to produce goals.

On the other hand, Muriel, who then scored the second goal for Atalanta. He made a brace through a team counter-attack that threatened the Rakow defense.

Murie fired a shot into the net. Midfielder Jean Carlos' effort to cut Muriel's shot was still failing so the home goal conceded again.

Winger Charles De Ketelaere completed Atalanta's victory. He scored in injury time which made Gian Piero Gasperini's men win 4-0 when they closed the match.