2023-11-10 00:06:08
Sturm Graz missed out on a point in the Europa League after a fighting performance against top Italian club Atalanta Bergamo. The offensively harmless soccer runner-up had to narrowly but deservedly admit defeat 0-1 (0-0) on Thursday. For Christian Ilzer’s team it was the second defeat in the fourth game of Group D, which significantly reduced the chances of promotion to the knockout phase of the second highest European competition.
In front of 14,739 fans in the constant rain in Lombardy, Berat Djimsiti (50th) became the match winner for the favored Italians. A late equalizer like in the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Graz was not achieved this time. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, however, secured their place in the Europa League as leaders with ten points. Since Sporting (7) won 2-1 (1-0) in the parallel game against Rakow Czestochowa (1) thanks to a long majority, Sturm (4) needs at least one win in the direct duel in Portugal in order to finish second. However, in order to winter internationally and switch to the Conference League, a third place is enough.
There had recently been two defeats in the league against Vienna Austria (0:1) and LASK (1:3), so Ilzer wanted to “improve” the performance in Bergamo. The attack coach changed his formation to make life difficult for the fifth-placed team in Serie A in a 4-2-2-2. In central midfield, Dimitri Lavalée moved into the starting line-up for the suspended captain Stefan Hierländer, the Belgian formed the double six with Jon Gorenc Stankovic. At the top, striker Szymon Wlodarczyk returned to the first eleven.
The 800 Sturm fans who traveled with us enjoyed the dubious privilege of not having a roof over their heads in the Gewiss Stadium, in a makeshift away sector due to renovations. The kickers in black and white tried hard in the early stages to put their supporters in a better mood. Due to their courageous playing style, the Styrians were initially the more offensive team, but without creating any scoring chances. It took 14 minutes for the game to be completed for the first time, but a shot from Rafael Toloi flew over the goal.
The Ilzer team defused the full-throttle football of the Blues from Bergamo, but the Graz team ended the few counterattack opportunities too hastily. Truly dangerous penalty area scenes were initially in short supply. In the 31st minute, Stankovic cleared a Djimsiti header for a corner, and five minutes later Wlodarczyk shot past the goal from an offside position. Shortly afterwards, a Lavalée volley from a corner narrowly missed the target (39′).
After the break, Atalanta pushed straight for the lead, which would fall in the 50th minute. After a corner there was chaos in the storm penalty area, the Graz team couldn’t get the ball out of the danger zone and Djimsiti scored an unstoppable shot for goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen. The Italians stayed on the trigger, David Schnegg blocked a shot from Ademola Lookman (56th). The lead was now deserved, the Graz team had little control of the game and had to defuse many Atalanta attacks.
“Joker” Luis Muriel, double goalscorer in Graz, missed from a good position (69th), Mario Pasalic, who was also substitute, also made it 2-0 with a Hateboer pass from close range. Just like Teun Koopmeiners shortly afterwards (74th), Ederson, who was denied by Scherpen (83rd) and again Pasalic, whose shot was blocked by Gazibegovic (87th). In stoppage time, Scherpen made another strong save against Pasalic (91′). The Ilzer team couldn’t get a shot at the opposing goal, only a shot from Tomi Horvat went just wide (63′).
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