There were two Champions League round of 16 matches on Wednesday evening, but also a duel between Sporting Portugal and Atalanta Bergamo counting for the Conference League.
A meeting moved due to the one between Benfica and Glasgow Rangers this Thursday in the Portuguese capital. Impossible to play two matches of this importance on the same evening.
Mission accomplished
For Sporting, the mission was clear, to win and if possible by several goals, in order to be able to travel to Bergamo with peace of mind on March 14.
A goal which he initially came close to thanks to the goal scored in the 17th minute by Paulinho.
But the equalizer from the essential Gianluca Scamacca in the 39th minute would put the Italians back in a favorable position.
Italians who dominated their opponent in all areas, while they remained on two consecutive defeats (4-0 at Inter Milan and 1-2 against Bologna), in the championship
Seeing that things were going in the right direction, Gian Piero Gasperini decided to throw several fresh players into the battle with around twenty minutes remaining.
Charles De Ketelaere therefore left the bench and, with Teun Koopmeiners and El Bilazl Touré, would further undermine the confidence that remained in the Portuguese, as noted in the Gazzetta dello Sport.
If he failed to create danger, the Belgian achieved what his coach expected of him.
For Atalanta, who can reasonably consider qualification after this draw won on the banks of the Tagus, it is therefore one more step towards a possible trophy which has been accomplished.
2024-03-07 12:26:42
#Ketelaere #undermined #confidence
