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Frueler's goal to make it four
The Atalanta fairytale continues!!!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 19, 2020
With half the city of Bergamo in the San Siro Remo Freuler puts the home supporters into dreamland 😍
That reverse angle 👌 pic.twitter.com/pYImalsTZZ
Atalanta double their lead
That is a ROCKET from Josip Iličić 😲
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 19, 2020
In the first ever Champions League knockout match in their history, Atalanta are off to a flying start 👌 pic.twitter.com/d2jWEZq64J
Audacious Atalanta
Ilicic was simply on another level, and as were the rest of his team when going forward.
They have certainly made sure it will be intriguing viewing when the second leg at the Mestalla rolls around in three weeks time.
FULL TIME!
Atalanta have attacked Valencia into the ground and it has been marvellous.
ADDED TIME
He took the ball too wide and the chance had gone.
The defender seems a little shaken up as he makes his way to the edge of the field.
SUBSTITUTION
It has been a superb performance from him.
SUBSTITUTION
That's right, another forward on for a centre half.
Atalanta aren't all for conforming to the usual procedures of being 4-1 up in a Champions League tie.
SHOT OFF TARGET
He approaches the ball with intent but his right footed effort flies past the left post.
Another chance bypasses Valencia.
PENALTY APPEAL!
First off there was a shout for a handball from Caldara. Instantly after de Roon hacks at the Valencia attacker in an attempt to clear the ball.
VAR have a long look but decide there was no wrong doing.
SUBSTITUTION
Valencia are looking for a way back into this tie.
CHANCE!
That's two brilliant opportunities to give them a real chance in the second leg.
SUBSTITUTION
GOAL! 4-1
It will most likely only be a consolation, but it is something.
VAR CHECK!
Ilicic is in an offside position but is deemed to have not interfered with play.
The goal stands.
GOAL! 4-0!
The Dutchman races down the right hand side, beats his man and slams the ball home at the near post.
This is absolute dreamland for the Atalanta fans in Milan.
CHANCE!
Gollini gifts the ball straight Maxi Gomez in the centre of the box. But the Uruguayan international just pops the ball back into the gloves of the keeper.
GOAL! 3-0!
When the moment was right he bends his effort round his captain and into the far post.
The curling shot could only be admired by Doménech in the Valencia goal.
Positive from the away side though.
CHANCE!
Soler made a wonderful run towards the near post.
The Spaniard loses his marker and slides the ball into the nearside netting.
If the midfielder could have flicked the ball on towards the goal that could have easily been game on.
CORNER!
It is definitely a disappointing result but the cross was deflected away for a corner.
Valencia's back line was at sixes and sevens as the ball made its way through to the Dutchman.
He got his legs all tangled up and Mangala was able to deal with the danger.
The ball dropped into space however. All it required was a man in blue and black to react the quickest.
Can there be a change in fortune for the visitors?
SECOND HALF!
HALF TIME
Valencia are really struggling here. Is there long list of injuries to blame? Or are Atalanta just handling the pressure in San Siro?
Exchanging passes and working their way through Valencia's defence.
This time it was Ilicic and Frueler linking up. The pair interchange passes all the way into the area, but just couldn't quite get a meaningful shot away.
ADDED TIME
GOAL! 2-0!
The Slovenian buys some time 25-yards from goal and shifts the ball on to his right foot. He swings his foot at it and bends the ball into the far right corner.
Doménech will feel disappointed that het got a fingertip to it and couldn't keep it out.
CHANCE!
Former Middlesbrough midfielder Martin de Roon finds himself on the edge of the area with the ball sitting up perfectly.
The Dutchman opts for a half volley that flies safely over Doménech's crossbar.
CHANCE!
The Dane is penalised by Michael Oliver.
It is taken quickly and a delivery into the box finds itself with Guedes on the left hand side. The Portuguese winger heads the ball back across the area, but Palomino produces are an unsure clearance to rid them of the danger.
Parejo is spraying balls over to the right in an attempt to open up Atalanta's defence.
The Italians appear resolute and organised though.
CHANCE!
The Slovenian slides the ball out to the left for the arriving Gosens. His strike however ripples the side netting.
GOAL! 1-0!
Gomez slides a ball across Valencia's backline and he picks out Dutch international Hateboer.
It would have been harder to miss but he forced the ball into the left corner.
This could be a good chance for Valencia.
Parejo launched a hopeful ball forward and Gollini was forced to head it away on the edge of his own box.
SAVE
He opts to go with the side foot and gives the keeper a chance to save his effort.
Doménech palmed it away for a corner.
Kick off
Late change
🚑 Infortunio nel riscaldamento per Berat #Djimsiti, partirà Mattia #Caldara dal primo minuto.
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 19, 2020
🚑 Djimsiti suffered an injury during the warm up, Caldara starts. #AtalantaVCF #UCL #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 https://t.co/XHXNc007g9
This really does feel set up to be one of those special European nights here in Milan.
A staggering one third of Bergamo is in Milan tonight in support of Atalanta on this monumental night.
#AtalantaVCF #goatalantago #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/waScgFx5sT
— Sauro Legramandi (@Sauro71) February 19, 2020
🔊 Our FANS making themselves heard in San Siro 🎶#AtalantaVCF 🌟#AmuntValencia 🦇 pic.twitter.com/9WJPEkpjlj
— Valencia CF English 🦇💯 (@valenciacf_en) February 19, 2020
Valencia Team News
🔥 Our XI 🦇 #AtalantaVCF pic.twitter.com/ViUSiRADw3
— Valencia CF English 🦇💯 (@valenciacf_en) February 19, 2020
Substitutes: 2 Correia, 3 Costa, 9 Gameiro,
11 Cheryshev, 13 Cillessen, 23 Sobrino,
37 Molina Gutiérrez
Atalanta Team News
Substitutes: 3 Caldara, 5 Tameze, 9 Muriel, 18 Malinovskiy, 21 Castagne, 57 Sportiello, 91 Zapata
👊 Scendiamo in campo così!
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) February 19, 2020
👇 Here’s your Starting XI to face @valenciacf!#AtalantaVCF #UCL#GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/IZuJN5criq
One to watch: Valencia
Valenica will have to look towards senior heads such as Dani Parejo to take control of the game at San Siro tonight.
The midfield general has provided six goals and six assists so far this season, along with orchestrating play from his central role in the team.
Parejo will be targeting Maxi Gomez in the hope that the Uruguayan can add to his nine goal tally for the campaign.
One to watch: Atalanta
The Slovenian international has been involved in 21 goals in his 26 appearances in all competitions this season. No doubt he will prove to be a threat tonight.
Home away from home
The hosts have lost just one of their last six matches at their temporary home in all competitions - albeit they weren't the home side in all six of those fixtures.
Valencia's familiar surroundings
The Spaniards however do have history at the San Siro. In their trips to Italy they have never lost at the historic stadium on this side of the century.
Head to Head
Back in 2017 these two line up in a friendly in which Atalanta ran out 2-1 victors.
The Group Stages: Valencia
Along their group stage journey, they beat Ajax in Amsterdam and beat Chelsea by the same 1-0 scoreline at Stamford Bridge.
The Group Stages: Atalanta
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