Gasperini: ‘Only negative aspect of Champions League for Atalanta’ | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini warns how Club Brugge can damage Atalanta in the Champions League play-off and admits to feeling disappointed at missing out on a direct route to the last 16.

The first leg kicks off in Bruges on Wednesday at 17.45 GMT.

La Dea have Marco Carnesecchi back in the squad following flu and muscular issues, but now Matteo Ruggeri is suffering from the virus going around the group and has been left behind in Bergamo.

Ademola Lookman, Daniel Maldini, Sead Kolasinac, Gianluca Scamacca, Giorgio Scalvini and Odilon Kossounou are injured.

Gasperini outlines Club Brugge strengths

Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We already saw Club Brugge play in the Champions League, as they held Juventus to a draw at home and caused Milan all sorts of problems at San Siro,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

“Now after the league phase, we are back to the old-school Champions League with knockout football. They are a team who are not similar to the ones we faced recently, they held out pretty well against Manchester City too.

“Like all Champions League sides, they are accustomed to challenging for victory in their domestic competitions. They attack, have pace and intensity. We need to be very wary, because as soon as you feel that you’ve got control of the match, they can hurt you. We have to be on our toes.”

Atalanta had been hoping to qualify directly for the Round of 16 as one of the top eight sides in the Champions League opening phase and came very close, only narrowly missing out by one point to Aston Villa.

Was Gasperini left disappointed by having to play these two extra matches against Club Brugge?

“Undoubtedly, we finished ninth in the table after a good campaign, but it is always very exciting for us to play in the Champions League,” assured Gasperini.

“I continue to say it boosts your domestic form too, but the problem is that it increases the chances of injury. That is the only negative, not just for us, but for everyone in this tournament. Other than that, it is an experience that gives you so much.

“This is our 11th game in four days, so whoever emerges from this unscathed will benefit from it.”

At least some of the calendar has been whittled down, as Atalanta crashed out of the Coppa Italia with a 1-0 defeat to Bologna in the quarter-final.