Atalanta was not complacent and underestimated Liverpool when they met again in the second match of the Europa League quarter-finals at Gewiss Stadium, Friday, April 19, 2024 in the morning WIB. However, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini called it a historic match.
Meeting Liverpool in European competition is clearly history for Atalanta. How not, Atalanta has only competed in Europe over the last few years.
Compare it to Liverpool which has a long history in European competitions. Even Liverpool are the most successful English Premier League club in Europe.
When Atalanta beat Liverpool at Anfield, this is certainly a great historical record for Gasperini's team. Moreover, they won 3-0 at home to Liverpool.
An extraordinary achievement. Even that victory smoothed Atalanta's steps to the semifinals. They only needed a draw in the second match which was held at home.
On the other hand, Liverpool need hard work. At the very least, the Reds have to win 3-0 to force extra time or shoot a penalty shootout.
This is a realistic target even though Mohamed Salah et al hope to immediately score four goals in that match.
"We are aware this is one of the most important matches in our history. If not the most important, but this is the culmination of the match to be played," said Gasperini.
Even though Atalanta is halfway through, Gasperini does not underestimate the opponent. He will not rest the core players even though he only needs a draw in this match.
"We know how difficult it is to face them. For us, they are still the same opponent even though we have beaten them," he said again.
"The game still starts with a score of 0-0. We don't think about the result of the first match. That's our target. I estimate Liverpool will show their best performance and they still have a chance. However, we will play all out and hope to get good results," said Gasperini.
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp chose to be realistic. According to him, it is not easy for him to catch a goal deficit at home to the opponent. Because this match will be more difficult than when the Reds play at Anfield.
"This match will be more difficult even if they may not score. I don't know what they did. What is clear is that it is not easy to catch up to three goals," said Klopp.
"We'll see later who's in a better situation. If finally Atalanta passes, they deserve it," he said.
In that decisive match, Liverpool was again strengthened by defender Trent Alexander-Arnold who had just recovered from injury.
But right-back Conor Bradley was forced to miss out after suffering a leg injury when Liverpool lost 1-0 against Crystal Palace in the Premier League competition.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker will again stand under the bar. Likewise, Diogo Jota will be the first seed and Darwin Nunez who sits on the bench.
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Atalanta itself lost Giorgio Scalvini who was injured in a hamstring. However, defender Marten de Roon who missed the first match because of the ban on playing was able to appear again.
Liverpool are predicted to be able to win the match. It's just that they find it difficult to catch a deficit of three goals so that Atalanta is more likely to qualify for the semifinals.
Atalanta's Lineup Forecast (3-4-1-2): Musso; De Roon, Djimsiti, Hien; Zappacosta, Pasic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; Scamacca, De Ketelaere
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Elliott; Salah, Jota, Diaz
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