Atalanta have named a youthful squad ahead of their Conference League clash with FC Kairat on Thursday evening, including seven players from their U23s squad, five of whom are teenagers.
Atalanta have played two games in the Conference League so far this season: They beat Pafos 3-1 at home in the opening round of fixtures and fell to a 2-0 defeat away against Ajax in their most recent European test. This leaves them in 15th place with three points after two matches.
Maruizio Sarri’s side will go up against a Kairat side that drew 1-1 with Riga in the first round of fixtures, before losing 5-1 at home to Panathinaikos, leaving them in 31st place with one point after two Conference League fixtures.
Thursday’s game could bring opportunities for a number of Atalanta youngsters as Sarri navigates his way through the next two fixtures before the international break with a hefty injury list.
Odilon Kossounou, Isak Hien, Sead Kolasinac, Thomas Kristensen, Raoul Bellanova, Franck Kessie, Gianluca Gaetano and Giacomo Raspadori are all unavailable through injury for the Kairat clash and have not been named in the matchday squad.
This has led to the inclusion of seven players who are typically part of the U23s squad, five of whom are teenagers. They are goalkeeper Mattia Sonzogni (17), defenders Isaac Isoa (18), Albert Navarro (19) and Relja Obric (20), wing-back Javison Idele (19), plus midfielders Sergej Levak (20) and Federico Steffanoni (18).
Kick-off this evening is due at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).
Confirmed Atalanta squad vs. Kairat Almaty
Goalkeepers: Marco Carnesecchi, Mattia Sonzogni, Marco Sportiello.
Defenders: Lorenzo Bernasconi, Isaac Isoa, Albert Navarro, Relja Obric, Giorgio Scalvini, Davide Zappacosta.
Midfielders: Ederson, Eljif Elmas, Javison Idele, Sergej Levak, Mario Pasalic, Lazar Samardzic, Federico Steffanoni, Nicola Zalewski.
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Nikola Krstovic, Jonathan Rowe, Gianluca Scamacca, Kamaldeen Sulemana.
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