Atalanta qualify for their first historic Champions League

Atalanta qualified for their first-ever Champions League campaign, winning their final game of the season to reach Europe’s top-tournament.

On a dramatic final day, just a point separated fifth-placed AC Milan and third-placed Atalanta.

As Atalanta, Inter and AC Milan won their respective games, by the end of the day it was Atalanta and Inter who finished in third and fourth respectively and took the last Champions League places.

The Bergamo side faced Sassuolo on the final day of the league campaign.

Sassuolo took the lead in the 19th minute through Domenico Berardi and also at the same time AC Milan took the lead through Hakan Calhanoglu.

Atalanta responded in the 35th minute through striker Duvan Zapata, with Inter being held 0-0 against Empoli and AC Milan 2-0 up against SPAL, Atalanta looked certain to qualify for next years Champions League.

By the end of all three fixtures, AC Milan ended up victors after two goals from SPAL looked to trouble AC Milan but a goal from a Franck Kessie penalty sealed the three points for the Rossoneri. Inter managed to beat Empoli 2-1 after being level at half-time and claimed the last Champions League spot. After beating Sassuolo 3-1, Atalanta secured a third-place finish and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their 112 year history.

After a strong finish to the campaign, which included a recent draw away to league champions Juventus, Atalanta will look to play fine football in the top European competition next year. Two key players in this years campaign for Atalanta was clubs top goalscorer Duvan Zapata who finished the campaign on 23 goals and Alejandro Gomez who recorded 11 assists and seven goals this campaign and were the two outstanding players who drove Atalanta to their Champions League qualification.

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