Sturm took a point from Atalanta

2023-10-26 19:00:00

Austria’s Bundesliga leaders SK Sturm showed morale and wrested a 2-2 (1-2) draw from Atalanta Bergamo in the Europa League despite numerical inferiority. This means the “Blackies” have a real chance of reaching the knockout phase.

Even before kick-off, there was a lot going on in the city center of Graz, troublemakers on the Styrian and Italian sides clashed on Mehlplatz, the executive was on the move with a massive contingent, at least the Tifosi fan march to the completely sold-out Merkur Arena in Liebenau was left without one Incident.

Sturm got off to a better start on the green pitch, with one of the three chances being taken by a native of Upper Austria. ÖFB team player Alexander Prass from Hellmonsödt took heart and took the shot; the 22-year-old’s shot, which has long since maneuvered itself into the notepads of international scouts, was deflected unstoppably (13th).

The course was set for a surprise against the Champions League-proven sixth team in Serie A – but initially only until shortly before the break. The “Bergamaschi”, whose squad is valued at 234.6 million euros (Sturm’s is worth 51.58 million), shifted gears and turned the tables.

The 32-year-old Colombian Luis Muriel completed a fine individual move to make it 1-1 (34′) and then converted a hand penalty to make it 1-2 (45’+7).

Because the Graz team had to operate outnumbered for a long time after Stefan Hierländer’s yellow-red card (53′), Atalanta seemed to be heading towards a certain success. But “Joker” Szymon Wlodarczyk had something against it and used the second hand penalty of the evening to make it 2-2 (80th). In the finish, Sturm had the luck of the brave and survived the pressure phase from the Italians unscathed.

“It was a crazy match with a lot of emotions. We are a great team,” said Wlodarczyk.