Former Atalanta striker Luis Muriel is confident La Dea won’t change their playing style against Real Madrid and could play the same way even against Leo Messi’s Barcelona.
Atalanta are the Serie A table leaders and have won the last nine league games.
They are unbeaten in the league phase of the Champions League and host defending champions Real Madrid this evening.
“Real is always Real on paper, but the Spaniards were not impeccable in the first part of the season. With this condition, Atalanta can play on par and aim for victory,” ex-Atalanta striker Muriel told Gazzetta.
Muriel: Atalanta won’t change for Madrid or Messi’s Barça. Lookman their ‘best’ player
BERGAMO, ITALY - DECEMBER 06: Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta celebrates his goal with his team-mates during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AC Milan at Gewiss Stadium on December 06, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta celebrates his goal with his team-mates during the Serie A match between Atalanta and AC Milan at Gewiss Stadium on December 06, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
The Colombia international, currently under contract with Orlando City SC, is confident that Atalanta won’t change their playing style tonight.
“I expect the usual Atalanta that keeps the ball, presses high and dominates proceeding,” said Muriel.
“They are so fit they could play like this even if they played the Barça of Messi, Suarez and Neymar.”
The experienced striker feels Ademola Lookman will play a key role for the Nerazzurri.
“He is currently the best player on the team because of his quality and consistency,” concluded Muriel.
Lookman has scored ten goals and provided five assists in 17 appearances across all competitions this season, including two goals in four Champions League games.
Muriel, 33, spent five and a half years at Atalanta, scoring 68 goals in 184 games. He joined Orlando City this past February and scored five goals in 33 appearances with his new club.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, December 10, 2024, page 10
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