Bergamo (AP) – After the respectable 1-1 win at Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen wants to take the first step towards the quarter-finals of the Europa League in northern Italy.
At Atalanta Bergamo, Bayer sports director Simon Rolfes expects two teams with an offensive drive to meet.
Leverkusen’s form
The Werkself presented themselves as stable and with sometimes strong attacking football. Coach Gerardo Seoane’s side have won five and lost just one of their last seven games. Bayer is third in the Bundesliga and on course for the Champions League. The lead over the first non-premier class place is four points.
The opponent
Bergamo has always been represented in the Champions League. This time the Lombardy club finished third in the group stage behind Manchester United and Villarreal FC. The club, which loaned international Robin Gosens to Inter Milan in the winter, are fifth in Serie A and six points off a premier league spot. In the end it was mixed. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s team lost 1-0 at AS Roma at the weekend.
The staff
Argentine centre-forward Lucas Alario, 29, is one of two new players in coach Seoane’s starting eleven after the Rhinelander’s 1-1 win at Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last match. Also new is Alario’s compatriot Exequiel Palacios, replacing the suspended Kerem Demirbay in midfield.
In defence, Seoane will return to the back four, unlike in the last game against Munich. The variant with three players against Bayern was more of an emergency solution due to the extremely strong offensive of the German record champions, the Bayer coach explained to the broadcaster RTL.
For the Italian hosts, coach Gian Piero Gasperini is counting on Ukrainian international Ruslan Malinowski and Colombian Luis Muriel up front in the first leg.
That’s what the coach says
Demirbay will be replaced by Exequiel Palacios, Seoane confirmed on Wednesday. The 43-year-old football teacher has great respect for the opponent and Bergamo’s development in recent years. “Atalanta is very strong collectively,” said Seoane. “They have developed good players in recent years. We have studied the team closely – it will be a difficult task but we can do it.”
Against Bergamo it is now important to make the right decisions in the first quarter of an hour. His team must be physically present in the duels and bring their own strengths, such as the fast transition game, to the pitch.