Atalanta 2-3 Athletic Club Player Ratings: Spanish Side Narrowly Overcome Five-Goal Thriller

Atalanta and Athletic Club clashed in a dramatic UEFA Champions League match at the Gewiss Stadium. The home side controlled the first half and took a deserved lead. Gianluca Scamacca scored with a strong header, and Atalanta appeared on course for a comfortable victory. Athletic Club struggled to find their rhythm before the break.

The match changed significantly after halftime. Athletic Club returned to the pitch with greater intensity and purpose. Gorka Guruzeta scored to begin the comeback and reduce the deficit. The introduction of substitutes played a key role in shifting the momentum of the game in the visitors’ favor.

Robert Navarro delivered an outstanding performance in the second half. He provided two assists and later scored a long-range goal to complete the turnaround and secure an important win for Athletic Club. Atalanta scored a late goal, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

The match was a memorable European contest and highlighted the contrast between the two halves, with Athletic Club showing resilience and quality to overturn the deficit.

Key Takeaways

1. Gianluca Scamacca scored a first-half header to give Atalanta the lead.
2. Gorka Guruzeta scored early in the second half to start Athletic Club’s comeback.
3. Robert Navarro scored and provided two assists to secure the win for Athletic Club.

Atalanta Player Ratings vs Athletic Club

Here are Atalanta player ratings from the UEFA Champions League match:

Goalkeeper

Marco Carnesecchi - 5.5: He couldn't do much about the goals to be fair. They were well-taken strikes. However, conceding three at home is never a good look for a keeper. He looked a bit shaky under pressure and his distribution was hurried. The late yellow card for dissent just summed up a frustrating evening for him.

Defenders

Odilon Kossounou - 6.0: A decent performance that was overshadowed by the team's collapse. He was solid in possession and won most of his duels. But like the rest of the backline, he had no answers when Athletic Club turned up the heat. He completed a last-man tackle which was crucial.

Berat Djimsiti - 6.0: The stats show a busy night with a high pass count and eight clearances. He was a rock in the first half. But the second half was a different story. He and his partners were pulled apart by the visitor's sharp movement. A classic case of stats not telling the whole story.

Sead Kolasinac - 6.0: He was actually quite solid before being substituted. We noticed he made five interceptions, reading the game well. He was taken off just before Athletic Club's second and third goals. Perhaps his departure unsettled the defence more than intended. He was steady, but not spectacular.

Midfielders

Éderson - 6.0: He covered a lot of ground as he always does. His passing was tidy and he recovered the ball well. However, he was largely anonymous in the second half. He couldn't get a foothold in the game when his team needed him most. A quiet evening overall.

Marten de Roon - 5.5: A very difficult rating to give. He was captain, had over 100 touches, and controlled the tempo in the first half. But that error leading to a goal was absolutely critical. It completely changed the momentum of the match. For a player of his experience, it was a shocking mistake.

Davide Zappacosta - 6.5: A constant threat down the right-hand side. He was always looking to get forward and had three shots on goal. His final ball wasn't always there, though. It was an energetic performance but lacked that killer instinct to make a real difference. We expected a little more quality from him.

Lorenzo Bernasconi - 6.0: The young man had a decent outing without setting the world alight. He looked tidy enough on the ball. He didn't do much wrong but also didn't impose himself on the game. It felt like a learning experience for him before he was substituted.

Forwards

Gianluca Scamacca - 7.0: He was excellent in his 65 minutes on the pitch. He took his goal with a powerful header. He was a real handful for the Athletic defence, winning fouls and holding up the ball. His substitution felt a bit premature from our perspective. Atalanta lost their main focal point when he went off.

Charles De Ketelaere - 6.5: Oh, what could have been. He was a creative force, creating three chances for his teammates. But he was also incredibly wasteful. He hit the woodwork and missed a big chance. It was a frustrating performance to watch because the talent is obviously there.

Nicola Zalewski - 7.0: He was electric in the first half. He provided a brilliant assist for the opening goal. He won an astonishing nine fouls, which shows how much of a nuisance he was. He faded significantly in the second half and was subbed, but his early impact was undeniable.

Substitutes

Nikola Krstovic, Ademola Lookman & others - 6.5: The subs brought some late life to the party. Krstovic came on and snatched a goal, assisted by Lookman. It gave Atalanta a glimmer of hope. However, the other changes didn't have enough time or impact to alter the result. It was too little, too late.

Manager

R. Palladino - 5.0: His team started the game perfectly. The first-half game plan was spot on. But he had absolutely no answer to the changes made by his opposite number at halftime. His substitutions came too late to rescue the game. He was comprehensively out-managed in the second half.

Athletic Club Player Ratings vs Atalanta

Check out Athletic Club player ratings from the UCL clash:

Goalkeeper

Unai Simón - 6.5: Conceded two goals, but there was little he could do about either. His distribution was a bit erratic, with many long balls going astray. He made a couple of important saves when called upon. A solid, if unspectacular, performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Dani Vivian - 6.5: A real battler at the back. He had a tough evening against Scamacca and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. He made a massive 11 clearances, throwing himself at everything. He was a key part of the defensive effort that kept his team in the game.

Aitor Paredes - 7.0: Just like his partner Vivian, he was a warrior. He also recorded 11 clearances and was dominant in his tackles. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure in the second half. He was a massive reason why Athletic Club could launch their comeback.

Iñigo Lekue - 6.5: The captain put in a proper captain's shift. He was solid defensively and didn't give much away. He led by example with his work rate and organization. He wasn't a huge threat going forward but he did his defensive duties admirably. A reliable performance.

Midfielders

Andoni Gorosabel - 6.0: He had a difficult time in the first half against the tricky Nicola Zalewski. He struggled to contain his man and offered little going forward. It was no surprise to see him substituted as his team looked for a way back into the game.

Mikel Jauregizar - 5.5: He was overrun in the midfield battle during his time on the pitch. He committed four fouls and picked up a yellow card. It was a tough night for the youngster who couldn't get into the rhythm of the game. He was rightly substituted.

Adama Boiro - 5.0: A night to forget. He was hooked at halftime after a completely ineffective 45 minutes. He barely touched the ball and looked off the pace. The game just passed him by. It was a harsh but necessary change from the manager.

Alejandro Rego - 6.0: Similar to his midfield partners, he struggled to make an impact. He was neat on the ball but couldn't influence the game in an attacking sense. He was part of a midfield that was second-best in the first half before being substituted.

Forwards

Gorka Guruzeta - 7.5: He worked tirelessly all night long. He scored the crucial equalizing goal that sparked the comeback. His hold-up play was excellent, and he never stopped running. A fantastic centre-forward's performance full of grit and determination.

Unai Gómez - 6.0: A quiet game for the attacker. He was largely on the periphery of the action. He struggled to find space and create anything of note. It was not a surprise to see him taken off as the manager sought more cutting edge.

Robert Navarro - 9.0: What a performance. Simply sensational. The highest rated player on the pitch by a country mile. He was involved in all three goals, scoring one and assisting two. Every time he got the ball, something happened. He was the architect of this incredible comeback. Man of the match, no debate.

Substitutes

Nico Serrano, Oihan Sancet & others - 8.0: The substitutes completely changed this game. Nico Serrano came on and scored the go-ahead goal with one of his first touches. Oihan Sancet provided the assist for Navarro's stunner. They brought energy, quality, and a belief that turned a loss into a win. Masterful changes.

Manager

E. Valverde - 8.5: A tactical masterclass. His team was dreadful in the first half. But his halftime adjustments and substitutions were pure genius. He identified the problems and fixed them decisively. He deserves immense credit for masterminding this incredible turnaround. He completely won the tactical battle.

Man of the Match

Robert Navarro was the best player in the Atalanta vs Athletic Club UCL game.

Worst Performer

Adama Boiro failed to impact the game.