SERIE A 2023-24: ATALANTA CLIMBS INTO THE TOP FIVE AHEAD OF THE MARSEILLE DECIDER.

On Monday, Atalanta took a significant step toward Champions League qualification by rallying from behind to defeat demoted Salernitana 2-1 and climb to sixth in Serie A.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side surged ahead of Roma on goal differential with a game in hand after in-form scorer Gianluca Scamacca and Teun Koopmeiners scored twice in six second-half minutes.

On Sunday, Atalanta will visit Roma in a match that could determine which of the two teams will compete in Europe’s elite club competition next season, with five spots open in Serie A.

“A match like that (Roma) is obviously crucial, but before that, we have another which we think is rather important,” quipped Gasperini to DAZN.

Gasperini was alluding to Atalanta’s Europa League semifinal match against Marseille on Thursday night, which is currently tied at 1-1 after last week’s first leg in southern France.

“I’ve not often seen a stadium like theirs which is so big but also transmits so much passion, so it doesn’t surprise me that they’re not the same team away from home, but I expect a tough game nonetheless,” added Gasperini.

On Monday, Atalanta’s journey was far from easy; at halftime, Gasperini made three substitutions as his team trailed to the hosts’ excellent curling opening in the eighteenth minute.

Among those substitutes was Koopmeiners, who scored a spectacular goal in the 63rd minute to give Atalanta the victory after Scamacca had poked in his tenth goal in twelve games.