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Atalanta names six academy graduates in 23-man Champions League squad – Football Italia

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 15: Atalanta BC head coach Gian Piero Gasperini looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta and Fiorentina at Gewiss Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)


Gian Piero Gasperini has brought six Atalanta academy graduates with him for Wednesday night's Champions League away game against Shakhtar Donetsk, but will be without the injured Matteo Ruggeri, while Marco Brescianini is also out.

There is a representative of the academy in every position of the confirmed Atalanta squad, so the goalkeepers include goalkeeper Francesco Rossi, who has been in the club's squad since 2003.

The five other academy graduates are still eligible to play for the U23 team. Defenders Pietro Comi, Tommaso Del Lungo and Marco Palestra are there, as are 19-year-old midfielder Alberto Manzioni and center forward Vanja Vlahovic, who made his senior national team debut last Tuesday against Como.

Gasperini's injury list still includes Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, both of whom are out with cruciate ligament injuries, as well as the aforementioned Ruggeri, who is also out with knee problems.

Brescianini didn't make it either, but otherwise all of Atalanta's available senior players were included.

Kick-off on Wednesday evening is scheduled for 5.45pm BST.

Confirmed Atalanta squad to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League

*Fullbacks were listed as defenders

Goalkeeper: Carnesecchi, Rui Patricio, Rossi.

Defender: Bellanova, Cuadrado, Kossounou, Godfrey, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Zappacosta, Palestra, Comi, Del Lungo.

Midfielder: Pasalic, Ederson, De Roon, Samardzic, Manzioni.

Forward: Retegui, Lookman, De Ketelaere, Zaniolo, Vlahovic.

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