FULL TIME
Goals and Highlights: Norwich City 1-4 Atalanta, 2019 Friendly Match
Watch the entire 90 minutes again right here and enjoy a great evening of action...
One thing is for certain, there won't be many boring games involving Norwich City this season.
Thank you for joining me, Chris Lincoln, and I wish you all a great evening.
Norwich will bring entertainment!
...but the Canaries will not be able to maintain that tempo for an entire 90 minutes in the Premier League and that is when the problems will set in.
Without Christoph Zimmermann, Norwich look flaky in defence, emphasised by the Timm Klose error for a crucial Atalanta equaliser at a vital time.
Conceding four was perhaps harsh and needs to be taken with a pinch of salt after numerous personnel changes, but the Canaries have now shipped eight goals in their last three matches.
...shaky in defence (11 goals conceded in 6 games)
For large periods of the first-half, Norwich played some excellent, high-tempo football, synonymous of their performances in the Championship last season.
Scoring goals doesn't look an issue...
Great going forward... (15 goals scored in 6 games)
What a game of football!
The first half was Norwich's, until that tide-turning error, before Atalanta dominated the second.
The result and performance arguably sum up the two different faces of Norwich.
Final thoughts...
FULL-TIME RESULT: Norwich City 1-4 Atalanta
90 + 1' Norwich caught all at see as Barrow races away from the halfway line to slot home a fourth.
What a second 45 from the Italians.
Another GOAL for Atalanta!
90' Still they push for more. Barrow's curling strike forces Fahrmann into a diving stop to his right.
Atalanta continue to dominate
84' The Italians have been much better in this half and deserve their third.
Musa Barrow powers forward before Timothy Castagne cuts a pass back to Chelsea loanee Pasalic and the midfielder fires home.
Game over.
GOAL!!! Atalanta extend their lead
82' A few minutes for Adam Idah and Philip Heise as they replace Lewis and Buendia.
More Norwich changes
80' VAR check the decision but there is no need as Zapata clearly bundled the ball over the line with his hand.
The striker was on his heels but surely he could have reacted quick enough to head or chest the cross in?
Disallowed goal for Atalanta
78' His first touch of the game, Vrancic fires a dipping free-kick just over the crossbar.
Inches over from Vrancic!
76' After a frustrating spell on the sidelines, Mario Vrancic comes into the action alongside Max Aarons. Byram and Leitner replaced.
Norwich changes - Vrancic returns
76' A diving header from Atalanta new boy Malinovskyi whistles over.
74' Atalanta are well on top here as a beautiful overhead kick from Andrea Masiello at a set-piece is palmed away by Fahrmann.
Great effort!
72' Atalanta almost extend their advantage. A pinpoint long ball from Muriel finds the run of Zapata who knocks the ball past the on-rushing Fahrmann.
Fortunately for Norwich, McLean is on hand to prod the ball off the line.
Moments later, Muriel becomes one of several Atalanta changes.
Off the line!
José Luis Palomino can count himself fortunate not to receive his marching orders for thrusting his head into Srbeny off the ball.
In a competitive fixture, he would have been gone. Remarkably, a VAR check did not even result in a yellow card.
Seeing red
Radio Norfolk have just informed us that Drmic released a rap single after scoring a hat-trick against Luton.
A man of many talents.
Meanwhile, Dennis Srbeny replaces Hernandez.
Radio star?
65' Kenny McLean, Patrick Roberts and Drmic are on for Pukki, Cantwell and Trybull.
Trio of Norwich changes
64' It does stand! Zapata played the ball to the quiet De Roon before working it to Muriel who smashes home a second.
The VAR check was for offside but it was over within seconds. A quick move followed by a quick decision.
GOAL! Atalanta lead!
63' Here we go, the ball is in the net for Atalanta but does it stand?
VAR drama!
Atalanta's top goalscoer from last season, Zapata replaces Gomez.
Zapata on
We said this game had a bit of bite and Muriel and Buendia have just gone head-to-head after a challenge between the two. Something of nothing.
54' Ben Godfrey looks in great shape, already tidying up two second-half bursts forward from the Italians.
50' Norwich are knocking on the door here.
Cantwell works the ball to Pukki whose near post drive is expertly kept out by the strong wrist of Gollini.
Great save!
48' Great work from Hernandez finds Pukki in space but Gollini gets a touch with an outstretched foot to turn it wide.
Trybull then heads the resulting corner over.
Close!
Norwich have dominated the contest for large periods but they need to work on their game management.
Atalanta have been allowed to grow into the contest with new signing Muriel proving a real threat.
All of the hard work from the likes of Cantwell and Pukki going forward has been undone, albeit from an awful error at the back.
Second-half is about to begin...Half-time thoughts
45' Disaster for Timm Klose and Norwich.
Seconds before half-time, Klose knocks Fahrmann's goal-kick straight across his own penalty area and to the feet of Muriel who slots home an easy equaliser.
Yes, it is still pre-season but a Norwich side who like to play out from the back need to also be careful of the attacking press from top European teams in the Premier League this season.
GOAL!!! Atalanta equalise after a dreadful error!
44' An early sub for the Italians as Josip Ilicic, the goalscorer against Middlesbrough, is replaced by Malinovskyi.
43' Pukki can't get any sort of purchase on his strike and it is comfortably saved by Pierluigi Gollini.
41' This is the area of game management that Norwich need to be wary of in the Premier League.
For all of their attacking intensity, they have periods in the game, normally just before half-time, where they drop off the pace and Atalanta have been able to feel their way back into the contest.
Muriel saw another shot saved before curling over from the edge of the box.
Atalanta probing
36' Another booking as Trybull picks up a yellow for chopping down Gomez. There is certainly a bite to this game.
33' Papu Gomez shows his strength in the middle of the pitch before also firing straight at Fahrmann.
32' Luis Muriel looks the only player with any sort of threat for the visitors but his effort from an angle is comfortably saved by Fahrmann.
30' Strong and skilful. First Pukki, then Cantwell, the duo show their strength to see off the attentions of Atalanta defenders. After a one-two with Lewis, Cantwell then flicks the ball to Leitner who blazes over from range.
The Canaries are enjoying themselves.
After a typically intense start from Norwich, the tempo has laboured into more of an expected pace for a pre-season friendly.
Cantwell looks full of confidence after a solid pre-season. If he continues this form, it will be fascinating to see who starts against Liverpool next Friday in the number ten role. Could Marco Stiepermann be staring down the barrel of missing out? Cantwell almost became the provider when a first-time pass was just a touch too strong for Pukki.
19' Cantwell looks a real player. Only a couple of minutes after scoring, he lets rip with a deflected effort that flies just wide of the post.
Just before that flurry forward, Marten de Roon picked up the first booking of the contest.
Cantwell impressing
16' Norwich's pressure has paid off with the deadlock broken.
After the initial move through Onel Hernandez broke down, Moritz Leitner picks up the loose ball and picked out Cantwell in space with a sublime pass. The attacking midfielder simply has to pick his spot to open the scoring.
GOAL!!! 1-0 Norwich
14' Pukki is starting to find his rhythm, picking up space on the left before laying the ball to Buendia who saw his weak effort comfortably saved
11' Norwich fans know all about the talent of Jamaal Lewis and the left-back has been heavily involved from the outset.
After another marauding run down the left, his cross picked out a clever dart from Pukki who flicked the ball just inches over.
Close!
7' Half chances at either end. Atalanta glanced a corner over before Pukki took a touch too long to release a strike after neat build-up play on the edge of the area from Cantwell.
A note on that last point. You would expect Norwich to be a yard ahead of their opponents with the Premier League beginning in just ten days.
Atalanta don’t start their Serie A campaign until the end of August.
3' Atalanta might have only just started their pre-season preparations but they look to have a spring in their step.
New Norwich goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann took an age deciding how to distribute a back-pass and was charged down by Luis Muriel with the ball fortunately bouncing wide.
Nervy start
Not the biggest crowd Carrow Road will see all season but this looks like it will be an intriguing encounter.
The teams are out
This looks like a game that could be won and lost in midfield.
Pasalic against Tom Trybull will be a fascinating battle, as will De Roon against Todd Cantwell with the youngster impressing in recent weeks.
Key contests
There is a little bit of history to be made this evening with VAR being used at Carrow Road for the first time.
Controversy on the cards?
A huge thank you to my colleague Alan Nunez for the updates over the last hour. I’m Chris Lincoln and I will be guiding you through all the action.
Ready for kick-off
The ground is looking marvelous here at Carrow Road.
Both teams are heading back to the locker rooms. The warm up routine took about 30 minutes.
Rossi, Sportiello, Reca, Freuler, Malinovskyi, Castagne, Pessina, Ibañez, Okoli, Colley, Zapata.
Atalanta subs
Gollini, Djimsiti, Palomino, Masiello, Hateboer, de Roon, Pašalić, Gosens, Papu, Iličić, Muriel.
Atalanta lineup
Patrick Roberts starts on the bench as Norwich City take on Atalanta at Carrow Road this evening.
Fahrmann; Byram, Godfrey, Klose, Lewis, Trybull, Leitner, Buendia, Cantwell, Hernandez and Pukki.
Norwich City lineup
Line-ups will be confirmed anytime soon. Stay here with us for live coverage.
Norwich City squad arrived to the stadium. A good amount of fans is expected today.
The boys are back! 😁 #ncfc pic.twitter.com/wQLs3JCtB2
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) July 30, 2019
Norwich City is here
If we have to be honest, Norwich City won't have an easy match this evening. On the other side of the pitch, Atalanta will be a good test because the Italian team is a Champions League qualifier.
In one hour and fifteen minutes, the football will roll here at Carrow Road. Everything is getting ready for this Norwich City vs Atalanta.
Do not miss a detail from Carrow Road as VAVEL provide all the details, commentaries, analysis and line-ups from Norwich City vs Atalanta.
To watch Norwich vs Atalanta live, the game is available on Norwich City's YouTube channel. To follow the game online, keep tuned to our in-depth commentary service of Norwich vs Atalanta on VAVEL UK.
How to watch Norwich vs Atalanta: Live TV Stream
In a squad bereft of household figures, one familiar name comes in the form of Marten de Roon who was part of the Dutch side that defeated England in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals. After an unsuccessful spell at Middlesbrough, the midfielder returned to Atalanta in 2017 and has played a major role in their transformation.
Alongside de Roon in the engine room is Mario Pasalic who scored eight goals in 42 appearances on loan from Chelsea last season. Despite signing a new contract with the London club, Pasalic returns for his second year at Atalanta, as does striker Duvan Zapata.
A Colombian international, Zapata is midway through a two-season loan deal from Sampdoria with an option to purchase and he fired Atalanta up the table last year with 23 league goals in 37 games.
The players to watch
Many people across Europe have been stunned by Atalanta's 2018-19 campaign that saw them finish third in Serie A and reach the Coppa Italia final.
Yet they have been on the rise for the past three years since Gian Piero Gasperini took the reigns, finishing fourth and seventh in previous campaigns and winning twice as many games as they have lost.
Atalanta's progression
Whilst Norwich have extended the contracts of the majority of their key players, Atalanta have lost both Franck Kessié and Bryan Cristante for a combined total of £40 million.
However, they have added European experience in the form of Luis Muriel from Sevilla, and Ukrainian midfielder Ruslan Malinovsky.
Drmic has been on fire since arriving at Norwich, whilst the likes of Ralf Fahrmann, Sam Byram and Patrick Roberts are all set to feature against Atalanta as they continue to embed themselves into the Canaries' set-up.
The new boys
Teemu Pukki and playmaker Emi Buendia are both set to return from injury to play a part for the Canaries.
Mario Vrancic is back in training after missing all of pre-season so far, whilst Christoph Zimmermann and Alex Tettey remain sidelined.
Norwich team news
Atalanta are currently midway through a mini tour of Great Britain that started with a trip to Swansea City and will conclude with a visit to Leicester City on Friday evening.
Despite opening the scoring as early as the fifth minute in Wales, they were eventually defeated 2-1 by a Swansea side set to kick-off their Championship game this weekend.
Atalanta's pre-season so far: The Great British challenge
Norwich City are looking to make a real impact on their return to the Premier League after a whirlwind season in the Championship last time out.
Bar one blip against Brentford, they have produced a positive pre-season thus far, unbeaten on a mini tour of Germany, including a 2-1 victory over Schalke, and smashing five past Luton at the weekend.
Goals have not been an issue, despite a toe injury for last season's top goalscorer Teemu Pukki, with new signing Josip Drmic already netting a hat-trick in yellow.
Norwich's pre-season so far: Positive preparations
Welcome along to live coverage on VAVEL UK of tonight's pre-season friendly between Norwich City and Atalanta from Carrow Road.