Atalanta Secures Conference League Spot with Narrow Victory Over Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Atalanta FC clinched a place in the UEFA Conference League by overcoming Hapoel Tel-Aviv with a 1-0 win on aggregate, following a decisive second-leg performance on neutral ground. The match took place at the DVTK Stadium in Miskolc, Hungary, where locked defenses characterized the earlier leg that ended goalless in Bergamo.
Gianluca Scamacca, making an impact shortly after being introduced as a substitute, notched the only goal of the game in the 73rd minute. After a corner was cleared, Lorenzo Bernasconi’s misdirected volley fortuitously fell to Scamacca, who skillfully redirected the ball into the net from eight yards.
The match initially featured several close calls with Ederson’s flicked header narrowly missing a cross from Lazar Samardzic. Samardzic also posed a threat to the goalkeeper with a long-range effort that tested the defense.
In a game marked by Atalanta’s tight setup, Hapoel Tel-Aviv had moments of promise, including a drive from Roel Alkoukin that was expertly saved by Atalanta’s netminder, Marco Carnesecchi, and a second attempt that struck the post after a corner.
Though Atalanta were without Charles De Ketelaere, who was unfit to start, they managed to secure their position in European competitions for the seventh out of the last eight years. Their Serie A season commenced successfully over the weekend with a 2-1 victory against Sassuolo.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv’s effort was notable, but the visitors left with their hopes dashed, as Atalanta proved resilient throughout the contest.
Match Summary:
- Final Score: Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0 – 1 Atalanta (Atalanta wins 1-0 on aggregate)
- Goalscorer: Scamacca (73 minutes)
- Hapoel Tel-Aviv Lineup: Tzur; Coco, Mayembo, Chico, Leidner; Falcao (Ferber 81), Kraev (Kancepolsky 77); Owusu (Toriel 68), Altman (Buskila 77), Alkoukin; Boateng (Dappa 81)
- Atalanta Lineup: Carnesecchi; Bellanova, Kossounou, Scalvini, Kolasinac (Bernasconi 71); Ederson, Gaetano, Samardzic (Pasalic 60); Zalewski (Cassa 84), Krstovic (Scamacca 71), Raspadori (De Ketelaere 60)
Gianluca Scamacca scored within minutes of coming off the bench to send Atalanta into the Conference League, eliminating Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1-0 on aggregate.
La Dea needed a result on neutral turf at the DVTK Stadium in Miskolc, Hungary after the first leg ended goalless in Bergamo. Charles De Ketelaere was still not ready to start, with Thomas Kristensen, Isak Hien and Kamaldeen Sulemana injured. Their Serie A season started at the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo.
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Ederson’s flicked header sent a Lazar Samardzic cross just wide, then Samardzic tested the goalkeeper with a snapshot from distance.
BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 20: Lazar Samardzic of Atalanta BC in action during the UEFA Conference League 2026/27 Play Off Round First Leg match between Atalanta BC v Hapoel Tel Aviv at Gewiss Stadium on August 20, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Samardzic was easily the sharpest player in the first half, winning a free kick with a mazy run and then curling the set play just over the bar.
Raoul Bellanova pulled back from the by-line for a Nikola Krstovic tap-in, but Fernand Mayembo made a decisive interception.
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Roei Alkoukin fired just over the bar, while Odilon Kossounou and Sead Kolasinac got in each other’s way on a corner to the back post.
BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: The Atalanta BC fans show their support during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Alkoukin had penalty appeals when Kossounou barged into him, but the referee had a full view and judged it to be shoulder against shoulder, and Marco Carnesecchi plucked a looping Emmanuel Boateng header out of the air with Chico ready for a potential rebound.
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Krstovic’s scuffed finish was deflected wide on a Nicola Zalewski through ball, while a Mario Pasalic header was too close to the goalkeeper.
The deadlock was finally broken by super sub Scamacca, who scored with only his second touch after coming off the bench. A corner was cleared as far as Lorenzo Bernasconi, whose wayward volley turned into an accidental assist for Scamacca to redirect from eight yards.
BERGAMO, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Maurizio Sarri, Head Coach of Atalanta celebrates after the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia on August 23, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
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Hapoel Tel-Aviv tried to fight back, Carnesecchi’s gloves stung by Alkoukin from 12 yards, then the goalkeeper made a stunning fingertip save to push the Mor Buskila angled drive onto the base of the far post after a corner.
Atalanta are in UEFA competition for the seventh time in the last eight years.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0-1 Atalanta (0-1 agg)
Scamacca 73 (A)
Hapoel Tel-Aviv: Tzur; Coco, Mayembo, Chico, Leidner; Falcao (Ferber 81), Kraev (Kancepolsky 77); Owusu (Toriel 68), Altman (Buskila 77), Alkoukin; Boateng (Dappa 81)
Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Bellanova, Kossounou, Scalvini, Kolasinac (Bernasconi 71); Ederson, Gaetano, Samardzic (Pasalic 60); Zalewski (Cassa 84), Krstovic (Scamacca 71), Raspadori (De Ketelaere 60)
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