Raffaele Palladino insists Atalanta should not use their Champions League exploits as ‘an alibi’ for . ‘The actual remorse was the second objective.’
It isn’t the primary time that La Dea have suffered a Champions League hangover, because the unbelievable comeback from a 2-0 first leg deficit took lots out of this squad.
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Even then, they capitulated 2-1 to a Sassuolo facet who had been right down to 10 males for the reason that sixteenth minute, when Andrea Pinamonti noticed crimson for a studs-up deal with.
Nonetheless, Ismael Koné and Kristian Thorstvedt turned in Armand Laurienté assists, with Yunus Musah’s late strike not sufficient to show it round, as there have been decisive Arijanet Muric fingertip saves in stoppages.
Palladino anticipated extra from Atalanta
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MARCH 01: Raffaele Palladino head coach of Atalanta BC embraces Fabio Grosso head coach of US Sassuolo in the course of the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Atalanta BC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on March 01, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
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“I don’t really feel we lacked sharpness, as a result of we took the fitting method, so utilizing the Champions League as an alibi isn’t proper,”
“We had been in full management of the match, we had the fitting angle, revered our opponents, however oddly after the crimson card it was Sassuolo who gained confidence. They began to defend deep and we struggled to interrupt them down.
“We moved the ball round too slowly, didn’t go down the wings sufficient, and didn’t go for the areas. We did higher after the break, went in direction of completely different zones that we may assault, however the large remorse is conceding that second objective. It made every part extra difficult.
“There have been possibilities, however getting a objective again on the 88th minute was too late to essentially change issues, even when we hit the woodwork in stoppages.”
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MARCH 01: Raffaele Palladino head coach of Atalanta BC in the course of the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Atalanta BC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on March 01, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
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Palladino made a triple substitution at half-time, however he didn’t introduce one other centre-forward, changing Gianluca Scamacca with Nikola Krstovic.
“Sassuolo had been defending 4-4-1, so so as to add one other striker would’ve simply performed into their fingers. We wanted to assault them down the wings, which we didn’t do successfully sufficient within the first half. We lacked one thing on the ultimate ball, however I used to be satisfied we may rating, the massive remorse was conceding the second. We may’ve stopped Laurienté earlier, that was the massive mistake.”
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MARCH 01: Lazar Samardžić of Atalanta BC competes for the ball with Nemanja Matic of US Sassuolo in the course of the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Atalanta BC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on March 01, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Picture by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Photographs)
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This was the primary defeat of 2026 for Atalanta in Serie A, since December 28 in opposition to Inter, and can injury their hopes of breaking again into the highest 4.
“I analysed the staff, and if I had seen them begin badly, I’d’ve thought of us being distracted by midweek, however I didn’t see that. It’s disappointing, however this stuff can occur, we should put it behind us and focus instantly on the Coppa Italia.”
Atalanta will face Lazio within the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg on Wednesday, because the squad is changing into stretched fairly skinny by all these tournaments.