Europa League Liveblog: Sporting CP vs Atalanta

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20:39 Sporting 1-1 Atalanta

After a thrilling first half in Lisbon, both sides were denied by the woodwork on multiple occasions in the second 45 minutes, leaving things wide open for the return clash.

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20:38 Full time!

Everything is level heading into the second leg in Bergamo next week. For now, Sporting 1-1 Atalanta.

20:33 Final Atalanta change

Off: Holm

On: Zappacosta

20:30 Offside denies Atalanta

Atalanta thought they’d nicked a late winner after Toure broke past the Sporting defence, but the goal was offside. Another unlucky moment for Gasperini’s outfit.

20:27 Final Sporting change

Off: Morita

On: Braganca

20:25 Another Dea change

Off: Scamacca

On: Toure

20:19 Atalanta come close again

A fantastic ball in from Ederson is met by a leaping Kolasinac, whose header is just wide.

20:15 Atalanta switch things up

Off: Lookman, Miranchuk

On: De Ketelaere, Koopmeiners

20:11 Sporting change

Off: Paulinho

On: Esgaio

20:05 Sporting also unlucky

The woodwork is proving to be a key player in the match tonight, as now Sporting have been denied. A strong header from Coates looked destined to go in before it too bounced off the post.

20:03 Woodwork again for Atalanta!

Lookman did incredibly well to slip into space in the penalty area, but his shot unluckily ricocheted off the post.

20:00 Djimsiti booked

Another booking for an Atalanta defender after Djimsiti lazily dragged back Gyokeres.

19:59 Sporting mean business

The Portuguese side’s three changes at half time have already started to have an impact, with the hosts looking hungrier in the Atalanta half now.

19:52 Scalvini booked

Within minutes of coming on, Scalvini has been booked for a poor challenge on Trincao.

19:50 Second half kicks off

Atalanta changes: Hien off – Scalvini on

Sporting changes:  Diomande, Koindredi and Edward off – Hjulman, Gyokeres and St Juste on

19:34 End of first half

Sporting’s early opener from Paulinho didn’t lead to much for the hosts, allowing Atalanta to level things out before half time thanks to Scamacca.

19:28 Scamacca almost scores again

The Italian striker peeled away from his marker as the corner flew in and his header was just barely pushed wide, keeping things level.

19:25 Atalanta equalise!

A mess at the back from Sporting gifts the ball to Atalanta. It ultimately ends up in the path of Scamacca, who is calm enough to poke the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-1 after 39 minutes.

19:22 Pressure building

Atalanta doing well to maintain pressure but a little toothlessness in the final third is allowing Sporting to maintain their lead for now.

19:15 Scamacca slow

A great header across the six-yard box from Ruggeri gave Atalanta a chance, but Scamacca was too slow on his feet to take advantage of it.

19:10 Atalanta hit the post twice

A nice burst into the box from Holm allowed him to fire a shot to the far post, which unfortunately ricocheted off before heading out. Unlucky. Scamacca hit the post moments later with a long shot.

19:06 First 20 minutes

Atalanta had looked the more positive of the two sides, but Sporting’s opener has changed things. Gasperini’s side need to pick up the pace here if they want to keep things close ahead of the second leg.

19:02 Sporting find the opener!

A quick counter from Sporting allowed Paulinho to burst down the left, where he pushed into the box before guiding his shot past Musso to make it 1-0 in the 18th minute.

18:59 Hien booked

A clumsy move from Atalanta’s Hien on Paulinho earns him the first booking of the game.

18:57 First corner

Atalanta win the first corner of the game, still looking the more positive of the two sides.

18:52 Early scare

A great run from Edwards gave Atalanta an early scare, but a solid defensive shape ensured the efforts were in vain.

18:50 First five minutes

Atalanta looking confident on the ball in these early stages, remembering their victory here back in October.

18:44 Kick off!

We have kick off in Sporting vs Atalanta!

18:31 Last two meetings

Oct 5 2023: Sporting 1-2 Atalanta

Nov 30 2023: Atalanta 1-1 Sporting

18:25 Starting line-ups

Sporting CP (3-4-2-1): Israel; Quaresma, Coates, Diomande; Catamo, Koindredi, Morita, Reis; Edwards, Trincao; Paulinho.

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Musso; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Holm, Ederson, De Roon, Ruggeri; Miranchuk, Lookman; Scamacca.

Join us for all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Europa League Round of 16 clash between Sporting CP and Atalanta.

The action kicks off at 17.45 UK time at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.

Atalanta have a fully fit squad heading into the match, giving coach Gian Piero Gasperini choices across the pitch.

Sporting cannot count on the injured Pedro Goncalves, Trincao, Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Adan.

Atalanta and Sporting already met in the Europa League group stage earlier this season, with la Dea picking up a 1-1 draw at home and edging out a 2-1 win away.

The Bergamo outfit have been in a spell of poor form in recent weeks, failing to secure a win in their last three league matches, losing to Bologna and Inter and drawing Milan.

Things have been more positive for the Leões, having picked up four wins in their last five matches, including an 8-0 thrashing of Casa Pia.