UCL Takes Priority: Atalanta Rotates Squad and Drops Points in Serie A

Atalanta suffered another setback in the Serie A title race, drawing 0-0 at home against mid-table Cagliari. While the result might raise some eyebrows, it shouldn't come as a huge surprise.

Gian Piero Gasperini made the decision to rotate his squad ahead of the crucial Champions League second-leg match against Club Brugge, set to take place in the middle of next week. The Italian side will be looking to bounce back after a 1-2 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, and Gasperini's priority was clearly on their European ambitions rather than Serie A.

2024-25, Italy - Serie A

Atalanta - Cagliari 0:0

Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Toloi; Hien; Posch; Ruggeri; Sulemana (de Roon, 74); Pasalic; Samardzic L. (De Ketelaere, 46); Brescianini (Éderson J., 67); Cuadrado (Palestra, 56); Retegui (Vlahovic V., 56)
Bench: Rui Patricio; Rossi F.; Bellanova; Djimsiti; Del Lungo; Zappacosta; Cassa

Cagliari: Caprile; Augello; Luperto; Zortea; Mina; Zappa; Adopo; Deiola (Marin R., 79); Makoumbou; Felici (Coman F., 67); Piccoli R.
Bench: Sherri; Palomino; Obert; Prati; Viola; Jankto; Pavoletti; Luvumbo; Mutandwa