Atalanta progressed to the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League with a thumping 5-0 defeat of Sturm Graz in Bergamo.
Defeat saw Sturm Graz – playing for the first time in six weeks because of the Austrian winter break – eliminated from the competition with a game to spare, though the Austrian Bundesliga leaders should have taken an early lead.
Less than a minute after Amady Camara flashed wide when through on goal, Italy striker Matteo Retegui converted Davide Zappacosta’s cross from close range to put Atalanta ahead.
Half-time substitute Ademola Lookman appeared to have made an instant impact when he squared across the face of goal for Charles De Ketelaere to tap home, but the goal was ruled out for offside following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
Former Everton attacker Lookman was denied twice in quick succession by Sturm Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, before Mario Pasalic stabbed home Juan Cuadrado’s cross to double the advantage.
Last season’s Europa League winners continued to push for a third, and soon got it when De Ketelaere tucked home after the visitors failed to clear a corner.
Lookman blazed over the bar when one-on-one with Scherpen, before fellow substitute Marco Brescianini was thwarted by a last-ditch challenge and the offside flag denied Zappacosta.
Lookman finally got his goal late on by heading home De Ketelaere’s cross at the back post, and there was time for Brescianini to add another.
Victory against Barcelona on Wednesday 29 January could secure a place in the top eight and direct passage to the last 16 for the Italian side.
