Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi was ‘serious about the time practically 10 years in the past’ when he employed Gian Piero Gasperini, however ‘the membership has advanced’ too and is able to face Roma.
It kicks off on the New Stability Enviornment at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
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BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 03: A common view exterior the stadium previous to the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and AS Roma at New Stability Enviornment on January 03, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Pictures)
The ambiance in Bergamo may be very particular this night, because the followers face Gasperini for the primary time as an opponent, having remodeled the membership throughout his nine-year reign.
Earlier than his arrival, they had been a yo-yo crew making an attempt to simply survive in Serie A, however he took them to common Champions League qualification, and triumph within the Europa League.
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Gasperini returns to face Atalanta as a rival
CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Gian Piero Gasperini coach of Roma appears to be like on through the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and AS Roma at Stadio Sant’Elia on December 07, 2025 in Cagliari, Italy. (Picture by Enrico Locci/Getty Pictures)
“It’s pure that that is totally different. In my workplace this morning, I assumed concerning the time practically 10 years in the past once I spoke with Enrico Preziosi to ask him to launch Gasperini from his contract with Genoa,”
“These have been 10 improbable years the place the coach introduced his profitable concepts and was capable of categorical them in one of the simplest ways throughout his profession. On the identical time, the membership has grown and advanced, thanks additionally to the instinct of administrators Sartori and D’Amico, all of it coming collectively to make this one of the best decade within the historical past of Atalanta.
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“There may be nice affection, however on the identical time it is a new chapter, and it is a very troublesome recreation towards a Roma facet that in 2025 earned extra Serie A factors than another crew. Gasperini cares about Atalanta, it was a little bit of an anomaly to final this lengthy in Italian soccer, however all tales should come to an finish.
“It’s an emotional night time, however we wish to focus on the match.”
ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 27: AS Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears to be like on through the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Part MD5 match between AS Roma and FC Midtjylland at Stadio Olimpico on November 27, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Picture by Paolo Bruno/Getty Pictures)
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Ivan Juric struggled when changing Gasperini, however the outcomes and performances have definitely improved since Raffaele Palladino took over on November 11.
Ademola Lookman remains to be on the Africa Cup of Nations together with Odilon Kossounou, whereas Raoul Bellanova and Mitchel Bakker are injured.
Surprisingly, Nicola Zalewski is pushed right into a extra superior position in help of Gianluca Scamacca, dealing with his former membership.
Percassi was requested if he wished Atalanta to place of their finest efficiency of the season, contemplating they had been up towards their ‘ex’, however he remained diplomatic.
“There has at all times been fairly a powerful rivalry between these two golf equipment. It’s disappointing we don’t have all our gamers obtainable, however I’m positive these chosen by the coach will do their finest. I’ll say with magnificence that each recreation is identical in our eyes,” smiled Percassi.