Atalanta defeated Pafos 3-1 at the Stadio di Bergamo in the UEFA Conference League, with goals from Elmas, Raspadori, and Scamacca securing a dominant opening win.
Atalanta dominate Pafos in opening win
Atalanta put on a masterclass at the Stadio di Bergamo, cruising to a comfortable 3-1 victory over Pafos in their opening match of the UEFA Conference League league phase. Backed by a passionate home crowd, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side delivered a devastating first-half performance, overwhelming their opponents with relentless attacking pressure and securing a dream start to their European campaign.
Lightning-fast start stuns visitors
The hosts made their intentions clear right from the opening whistle, catching Pafos completely off guard. Inside just one minute, Elmas found space inside the penalty area and fired a brilliant shot past the goalkeeper, giving Atalanta a dream start and sending the Bergamo crowd into wild celebrations. See also:Â Cornelius fire Copenhagen past Braga 3-0 in opener
The pressure continued to mount as Pafos struggled to cope with the relentless pace. In the 18th minute, Atalanta were awarded a penalty, and Giacomo Raspadori stepped up with total composure to slot it home, doubling the lead and putting the Italian side firmly in control.
Scamacca seals first-half dominance
Atalanta showed no signs of slowing down as the first half progressed, dictating the tempo and carving open the visiting defense with ease. Just before the halftime break, Gianluca Scamacca added a brilliant third goal in the 44th minute, capping off a phenomenal team move to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 cushion.
The second half was played at a controlled tempo as Atalanta easily managed their advantage. Although Pafos managed a late consolation goal through Biel in stoppage time at the 90’+2 minute, it was nothing more than a footnote on a dominant night for the Italian side.