UEFA Champions League: Atalanta 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb

by croatiaweek
November 26, 2019
in Sport

Dinamo Zagreb (Photo: Mario Ćužić/HNS)

ZAGREB, 26 November 2019 – Dinamo Zagreb have been beaten 2-0 by Atalanta in their UEFA Champions League Group C clash on Tuesday night at the San Siro stadium in Milan.

The loss means the Croatian champions now have an uphill battle to qualify for the round of 16 and will need other results to go their way.

Atalanta looked a different side to the one which was trounced 4-0 in Zagreb in September and they would be the ones applying much of the pressure in the opening stages.

After numerous chances, the home side would take the lead in the 27th minute when they would be given a penalty after Perić fouled Muriel inside the box. Muriel would take the penalty himself, sending Livakovic the wrong way to make it 1-0.

Dinamo Zagreb almost equalised in the 36th minute when Orsic cut inside from the left on the edge of the penalty area but his wonderful curling shot would hit the crossbar.

Dinamo Zagreb were lucky to go into the break just the one goal down, but they would find themselves 2-0 just two minutes into the second half.

Atalanta captain Gomez would beat Ivanusec before unleashing a fierce strike into the far right corner past the diving Livakovic.

Atalanta continued to pile on the pressure and created a number of chances. They should have gone 3-0 up when Gomez was left unmarked in the box but his shot from yards out was brilliantly saved by Livakovic.

With Manchester City drawing with Shakhtar Donetsk in Manchester tonight to confirm their place as group winners, the final round on 11 December will decide who will finish second in the group to qualify with City for the round of 16.

Dinamo Zagreb play Manchester City in the final round, whilst Atalanta meet Shakhtar Donetsk. The third place team will join the UEFA Europa League.