Atalanta opened their UEFA Conference League campaign with a 3-1 victory against Pafos at the New Balance Arena, powered by early goals from Elmas, Giacomo Raspadori, and Gianluca Scamacca. While manager Maurizio Sarri praised his squad’s professional display, he also voiced sharp frustration over mounting fixture congestion after losing two key players to injuries sustained during international duty.
How did Atalanta secure the opening win against Pafos?
The Italian side asserted control within the opening minute when Elmas converted from close range following a setup by Raspadori and a dummy from Scamacca, marking the fastest goal in club history in UEFA competitions at just 44 seconds, as reported by ANSA. Raspadori doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after Bruno Felipe fouled Nicola Zalewski inside the area. Scamacca added a third just before halftime in the 44th minute, controlling a precise pass from Charles De Ketelaere before turning and finishing past the goalkeeper. Pafos managed a late response in the 88th minute when backup forward Vlad Dragomir and Anderson Silva combined to set up Jairo da Silva Biel, whose right-footed shot beat goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi to make it 3-1.
Why did Maurizio Sarri criticize the international match calendar?
Following the match, Sarri directed heavy criticism at football governing bodies regarding player workloads and demanding schedules. The manager revealed that Giacomo Raspadori aggravated a foot injury shortly after scoring, joining Giorgio Scalvini on the sidelines after both players returned from international duty with physical ailments. Fai un esposto alla Lega, all’Uefa, alla Fifa… Sono troppi per tutti, non solo per noi
, Sarri stated, as documented by La Gazzetta dello Sport. He added that players face an absurd schedule and expressed surprise that the players’ association remains silent on the issue.
What tactical adjustments did Sarri implement after the Venezia match?
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Sarri noted that Atalanta managed the tempo significantly better than in their previous outing against Venezia. Abbiamo scelto meglio quando andare diretti e quando palleggiare: non abbiamo concesso praticamente nulla all’avversario
, Sarri explained in quotes reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Unlike the Venezia fixture, where the squad frequently stretched play and conceded transitional space, the hosts maintained defensive compactness while using their technical superiority over the Cypriot visitors.
How did Pafos approach their third historic fixture in Italy?
For Pafos, the trip to Bergamo marked the club’s third-ever competitive fixture on Italian soil, following previous Conference League and Champions League visits to Fiorentina and Juventus respectively, L’Eco di Bergamo reported. Approximately 300 travelling supporters gathered at Piazzale degli Alpini ahead of kickoff under police supervision. Pafos manager Ricardo Sá Pinto acknowledged the difficulty of facing one of the tournament favorites while expressing pride in his team’s resilience.
When do the Nerazzurri return to European competition?
Atalanta travels to the Netherlands next Thursday to face Ajax in their second fixture of the Conference League league phase, aiming to maintain momentum while Sarri assesses his depleted squad ahead of domestic league duties.
Maurizio Sarri sees further Atalanta progress in their 3-1 Conference League win over Pafos, but is frustrated at another injury. ‘Players are subjected to an absurd calendar.’#Atalanta #Pafos #AtalantaPafos #UECL pic.twitter.com/Bifql5AnkQ
— https://x.com/footballitalia/status/2110849614031323429
