Atalanta BC go face Pafos FC for dia Conference League league phase opener on Thursday, 15 October 2026, for New Balance Arena. Di Italian side na di highest-ranked team for dis year Conference League, and dem wan start di league phase with positive result. Di game dey for Stadio di Bergamo, and e kick off 20:00 UK time, 21:00 CEST.
Recent international break give Maurizio Sarri men reset wey dem need. La Dea end three-match losing sequence by beating Venezia on Monday, and dem go target back-to-back victories to avoid coming unstuck for Bergamo. New Atalanta boss Sarri never establish consistency since e join club over summer, and im mixed results show am.
After starting season with three consecutive wins across Serie A and Conference League qualifying, Nerazzurri slip to domestic defeats against Roma, Cagliari and Juventus before di pause. Di hiatus timely for Bergamaschi, who respond with 3-1 victory over Venezia, side wey enter matchday six without any point from opening five games. Sarri men punish di promoted outfit, race into 3-0 lead inside opening half-hour before allowing consolation goal as first half draw close.
Hope say Monday success go provide fillip for another winning run, but UEFA top-ranked side for di competition never still guaranteed victory against their Cypriot opponents. Pafos make European debut for 2024-25 season and never look back since, participating in Champions League for first time last term before returning to dis year Conference League. Ricardo Sa Pinto fit prefer maiden Europa League appearance, but Cypriot outfit suffer narrow 4-3 aggregate defeat against Red Bull Salzburg for third qualifying round, meaning dem drop into playoff round of third-tier competition, where dem overcome Dinamo City 5-3 over two legs.
Having reach last 16 for their debut European season for 2024-25, Sa Pinto go hope to at least emulate Juan Carlos Carcedo-led team wey progress beyond league phase. Facing Atalanta on Thursday present uphill challenge for visitors despite La Dea indifferent form, particularly as dem also encounter difficulties away from home for Europe dis season. Paphos-based side fail to score for Europa League qualifying defeats against Hajduk Split and Salzburg, losing 2-0 and 1-0 respectively, while dem only fit draw 1-1 with Dinamo City for Conference League playoff round.
Sarri warn Atalanta to remain humble for Conference League against Pafos. E also glad to reunite with David Luiz, but admit say perhaps leaving Chelsea was an error. Sarri tell Sky Sport Italia say, “We had to get it done quickly, we only managed 35 minutes in training this morning.” E talk say, “I expect opponents with great technical ability and we will try to cause them problems. The main issue is to remain humble, because humility is perhaps the most important element in modern football, because any team can cause you issues.”
Atalanta line up in 4-2-3-1 led by Pasalic, while Pafos FC set up in 4-3-3 led by Luiz. Atalanta dey led by head coach Maurizio Sarri, while Pafos FC dey managed by Ricardo Sá Pinto. Di match dey played at New Balance Arena. Giorgio Scalvini, Franck Kessie, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Isak Hien, Odilon Kossounou and Raoul Bellanova all out of action this evening, so choices in defence limited. Odilon Kossounou get
