Raffaele Palladino explains his personal stunning Atalanta selections and provides his response to Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea picks. ‘Chelsea are sturdy, however we wish to show what we will do.’
It kicks off on the New Steadiness Area in Bergamo at 20.00 GMT.
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This can be a direct head-to-head for place, as each groups have 10 factors within the Champions League desk, so a victory right here may imply securing a spot within the play-offs.
Palladino was livid after Atalanta’s 3-1 Serie A defeat to all-time low Hellas Verona over the weekend, as he noticed them strategy it with the flawed perspective.
Palladino sees Atalanta response towards Chelsea
VERONA, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Raffaele Palladino, Head Coach of Atalanta, appears to be like on previous to the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and Atalanta BC at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on December 06, 2025 in Verona, Italy. (Photograph by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
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“I needed to see hearth of their eyes after a foul efficiency in Serie A. I noticed the appropriate spirit that’s wanted, particularly in these video games, towards a Chelsea facet that gained the Membership World Cup,”
“They’ve particular person expertise, are full in each respect, so we have to perceive the varied moments of the match, to assault and defend as a unit.
“We hope to place in an important efficiency in entrance of our followers.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 13: Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta is stretched off the pitch on account of a harm in the course of the Serie A match between Atalanta and Bologna at Gewiss Stadium on April 13, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photograph by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Photographs)
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within the Champions League for the primary time since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in April.
Nonetheless, there are surprises with Isak Hien on the bench and youth product Lorenzo Bernasconi launched on the left flank reasonably than Davide Zappacosta.
“Isak had a flexor challenge that was inflicting him ache after Verona, and we’d like Kolasinac to play so he can totally recuperate. We all know he isn’t at 100 per cent, however his mentality, charisma and power is what we’d like, so that is the appropriate night time to see him in motion,” defined Palladino.
“From the primary day I’ve been right here, Bernasconi has labored actually laborious and waited for his second, so I anticipate a very good efficiency from him tonight.”
NAPLES, ITALY – NOVEMBER 22: Raffaele Palladino Atalanta BC head coach in the course of the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Atalanta BC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on November 22, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photograph by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Photographs)
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Enzo Maresca pulled a number of surprises too tonight, as he left 18-year-old sensation Estevao and large signing Alejandro Garnacho on the Chelsea bench.
“Towards these groups and these coaches, there isn’t only one sport. It’s three, 4 or 5 video games in a single. You must learn the varied moments of the match, so we all know they’ve gamers like Garnacho and Estevao who can come off the bench,” added Palladino.
“Nonetheless, I’m centered on my lads, I do know they are going to give their all and we wish to attempt to compete towards a really sturdy crew, to trigger them issues. Undoubtedly Chelsea are sturdy, however we wish to show what we will do as properly.”