Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini insists his side are ready for their reunion with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United side in this week's Champions League group-stage clash.
United ran out 3-2 winners in the reverse fixture - having been 2-0 down at the break - but Gasperini believes his side had a 'great test' this weekend to prepare for the Red Devils travelling to Bergamo.
Atalanta drew 2-2 with Lazio - managed by former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri - on Saturday, an opponent whom Gasperini believes possess similarities with Solskjaer's men.
"We hope to win on Tuesday against United to secure our place in the group," Gasperini told DAZN post-match. "I agree that today’s match was a test also because Lazio play like Manchester United.
"They keep both teams, very high rhythms and so we had a great test."
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Former Middlesborough midfielder Martin de Roon rescued a point for Atalanta with a 94th-minute equaliser, having gone behind twice in the Serie A match.
La Dea currently sit fifth in the Italian top-flight table, already 12 points adrift of first and second place after just 11 games.
Gasperini has led Atalanta to successive top-three finishes over the past two seasons, scoring a combined 188 goals across the pair of campaigns to garner acclaim among Europe.
But their boss has acknowledged what the issue for his men has been so far in 2021-22, having conceded 14 goals and going behind in their last two matches.
"We scored two goals [against Lazio]. The problem is that we often have to chase," Gasperini added. "When we take the lead, however, the spaces open up more.
"In the first half we just needed to be a little more precise on the last kick. We have the right concepts, we lack the quality and precision of last year."
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Ahead of their first meeting a fortnight ago, Solskjaer was highly complimentary of the Serie A side.
"First of all, I'm very impressed by Atalanta's way," the United boss told a press conference. "The style they play, the way they develop players, the results they've had in the last few years, the manager is clearly very strong, and he wants his team to play in a certain way.
"Of course, we signed Amad from Atalanta, we’ve watched them quite a lot and it’s a team with attacking philosophy that I think most lovers of football enjoy and like."
Solskjaer added: "I don’t think it’s fair to pick out one player because I think it's a team with a style that will cause you problems, but with good individual players, definitely.
"But it's wrong to just name the one."
