Maurizio Sarri made his competitive debut as Atalanta coach without a goal: the match against Hapoel Tel Aviv ended 0-0. After a balanced start, Atalanta grew and came close to taking the lead through Scamacca and Raspadori, while Carnesecchi responded with a substitute save from Boateng. Scalvini's injury gave Kristensen his debut. The pace slowed in the second half, but Atalanta came very close to scoring in the closing stages when Krstovic hit the side-netting, and in stoppage time, Tzur made two saves from Krstovic and Raspadori. Atalanta's chances of advancing to the Conference League group stage will be postponed until the return match, which will be played on neutral ground in Hungary.
For his competitive debut as Atalanta coach, Maurizio Sarri confirmed the starting lineup he fielded against Athletic Club in the Bortolotti Trophy, with Zalewski starting right winger in place of the unavailable De Ketelaere. The only change in Hapoel Tel Aviv's 4-2-3-1 formation is the absence of Turiel, replaced in the right attacking midfielder role by Owusu.
Atalanta and Hapoel Tel Aviv studied each other's play for the first quarter of an hour, producing a high pressing from the start. Atalanta struggled to create verticality, and it wasn't until the 19th minute that they had their first shot on target. Zalewski took advantage of the opposition's lack of defensive precision to fire a left-footed shot from the edge of the box, but the ball went just wide. In the 23rd minute, Carnesecchi came out to block Boateng, who was met by a pass into the box from Leidner from the left flank. In the 26th minute, Sarri, forced to forgo Scalvini due to a left ankle injury, brought on debutant Kristensen. Atalanta began to push forward with greater conviction. In the 36th minute, Atalanta had a chance with a Samardzic assist for Scamacca, who aimed for the top corner, but Tzur defended the near post, deflecting the ball into the corner. In the 44th minute, Kristensen attempted a long-range shot, but the Hapoel goalkeeper saved easily. After half a minute, Atalanta had another chance with a combination between Scamacca and Raspadori, whose low left-footed shot fell to the goalkeeper.
In the second half, Atalanta upped the tempo and dominated Hapoel's half, which tightened its grip even further. In the 18th minute, Barda replaced the attacking midfielders Altman and Owusu with Silva and Buskila, while Sarri replaced Scamacca with Krstovic, who in the 22nd minute attempted a right-footed shot from the edge of the box but missed the target. On the half-hour mark, Hapoel made another substitution, with Dappa coming on for Boateng. In the 33rd minute, Atalanta also made a double substitution, with Pasalic and Cassa replacing Samardzic and Zalewski. Atalanta created two chances towards the end. In the 43rd minute, Sarri's team came close to scoring when Krstovic shielded the ball and fired a right-footed shot into the side-netting. In the first of three minutes of added time, Tzur made two saves, first from Krstovic's header and then from Raspadori's rebound.
ATALANTA-HAPOEL TEL AVIV 0-0
ATALANTA (4-3-3): Carnesecchi 7 Bellanova 6 Kossounou 5.5 Scalvini 6 (26' pt Kristensen 6) Bernasconi 6 Samardzic 5.5 (33' st Pasalic 6) Gaetano 5.5 Ederson 6.5 Zalewski 5.5 (33' st Cassa 6) Scamacca 6.5 (18' st Krstovic 6.5) Raspadori 5.5. Subs: Sportiello, Vismara, Obric, Zappacosta, Kolasinac, de Roon, Ibrahim Sulemana, Manzoni. Coach: Sarri
HAPOEL TEL AVIV (4-2-3-1): Tzur 7 Coco 6 (44' st Piven sv) Mayembo 6.5 Chico 6 Leidner 6 Falcao 6 Kraev 6 Owusu 6 (18' st Buskila 6) Alkukin 6 (44' st Lemkin sv) Altman 6 (18' st Silva 6) Boateng 5.5 (30' st Dappa 6). Available: Benyamini, Baranes, Archel, Farber, Kancepolsky, Israelov. Coach: Barda.
Referee: Alberola Rojas (Spa) 6 Assistants: Rodriguez Moreno-Alvarez Fernandez. 4th officer: Garcia Verdura. Var: Soto Grado AVar: Figueroa Vazquez
Booked: Kraev, Raspadori, Altman
Recovery: 3, 3
