![Gasperini defiant as depleted Atalanta prepare to battle Brugge Gasperini defiant as depleted Atalanta prepare to battle Brugge](https://www.soccernews.com/wp-content/themes/SN/images/300x250_HR.gif)
Atalanta have key gamers lacking, however Gian Piero Gasperini was in no temper to search for excuses forward of Wednesday’s Champions League conflict with Membership Brugge.
Final season’s Europa League champions Atalanta will go head-to-head with Brugge over two legs for a spot within the final 16.
With key gamers lacking in defence and assault, the Italian facet will as soon as once more flip to goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who has began their earlier two league matches following first-choice keeper Marco Carnesecchi’s thigh harm.
“Rui Patricio will play. We introduced Carnesecchi however he’s not at his finest,” Gasperini instructed reporters.
“We’ve had some wonderful performances however sadly, the difficulty of accidents has an influence. In all groups there are these explicit durations, with many video games in fast succession.
“We have to make up for some absences, possibly we are going to quickly get better [Ademola] Lookman and defender [Sead] Kolasinac. In 10 days they’ve missed 4 video games.”
Charles #BruggeAtalanta #GoAtalantaGo pic.twitter.com/pC6ZANozFC
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 11, 2025
Their harm disaster deepened as defender Giorgio Scalvini and ahead Gianluca Scamacca had been dominated out for the rest of the season with shoulder and thigh accidents respectively.
The Europa League champions narrowly missed automated qualification for the competitors’s final 16, ending the new-look league section in ninth place after ending with a 2-2 draw at Barcelona.
“Let’s return to the system of the previous Champions League, with the return leg. Enjoying it at house could look like a small benefit,” Gasperini added.
“Undoubtedly taking part in many video games in Europe, and at a excessive stage, has given us good development and a greater strategy to matches, even away. However each time it’s totally different, the emotion is totally different in each match.”
When requested about Atalanta’s possibilities of advancing, Gasperini remained cautious.
“I don’t consider in predictions, they’re of little use,” Gasperini stated.
“From what I’ve seen a number of instances, we’re dealing with a tactically ready group, a group used to profitable. With Manchester Metropolis they performed defensively, at all times sustaining the group ideas.
“It is going to be troublesome to face them. We’ll need to play properly, they know the right way to keep shut in a number of metres, they’ve good individuality and depth.”