Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Atalanta will be aiming to cement top position in Group D when they take on Sturm in Bergamo on Thursday evening. The Orobici failed to impress in a 2-1 loss to Inter at the weekend, but they have been producing fine performances in the Europa League group stages this term and, as a result, the bookies see them as favourites to beat the Austria Bundesliga side. Luis Muriel, who scored a brace in the last group game, is pushing for a start, while both Lukas Vorlicky and El Bilal Toure should miss out with injuries.
Die Schwoazn, on the other hand, did well to hold Atalanta to a draw in front of home fans, but given their difficulties on the road, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise this time out. To make things even worse for the visiting side, midfielder Stefan Hierlander serves a one-game ban following his sending-off in the Merkur-Arena clash.
Highlighted Player (Marten de Roon):
After spending his youth career in ASWH, Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam, Marten de Roon made his senior debut on 27 March 2010. The midfielder played for Sparta against Twente back then, but he made no more than three appearances for de Kasteelheren in the 2009/2010 season.
Marten de Roon joined Heerenveen in 2012 and in 2015 he moved to Serie A side Atalanta. He made 36 appearances for Atalanta in the 2015/2016 Serie A campaign, but on 4 July, 2016, he signed a contract with Middlesbrough for a reported fee of £12m. The Dutch footballer scored one goal in three appearances for Netherlands U19 team.
Marten de Roon was born in Zwinjndrecht, Netherlands on 29 March, 1991. His main position is central midfield, but he is capable of playing as a defensive and attacking midfielder as well. Martin de Roon is a right-footed footballer and he is 185 cm tall.
Highlighted Team (Atalanta):
Atalanta Bergamasco Calcio, better known as Atalanta Bergamo is an Italian football club from Bergamo which was founded in 1907 and is currently active in the Serie A.
The club host it’s home games in the Atleti Azzuri d’Italia stadium which holds a capacity of 27 000 sats. The club colors of Atalanta Bergamo are blue and black. Atalanta Bergamo holds the nickname Nerazzuri which is the same as Inter Milan.
Biggest succes of Atalanta Bergamo was in 1963 where the club managed to win the national cup (Coppa Italia). Atalanta won the Serie B three times (in 1959, 1984, 2006 and 2011). In Europe the club from Bergamo managed to stunt and reached the semi finals of the Europe Cup 2.