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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Man Utd handed major Champions League boost as Atalanta without five key stars

Manchester United's rivals Atalanta are set to be without five important players for their Champions League clash on Wednesday evening.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team are desperate for a victory against the Serie A club after winning just one of their last five games in all competitions.

As reported by Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Atalanta will be without Rafael Toloi, Berat Djimsiti, Hans Hateboer, Matteo Pessina and Robin Gosens for their trip to Old Trafford.

Captain and defender Toloi, 31, picked up an injury against Serie A rivals Empoli at the weekend, while the other four players are long-term absentees.

Atalanta are currently top of their Champions League group after securing a 2-2 draw with Villarreal and beating Young Boys 1-0 in their last European outing.

Gian Piero Gasperini is set to be without five players for Atalanta's trip to Old Trafford (Getty Images)

United, meanwhile, are third in the table following unconvincing performances against the same teams but could go top with a win on Wednesday.

The Red Devils have reportedly assured Solskjaer he will not be sacked anytime soon ahead of a nightmare run of fixtures for his struggling team.

United are set to play Liverpool, Tottenham, Manchester City and Atalanta twice in the coming weeks, with games against Villarreal, Chelsea and Arsenal on the horizon.

Despite their opponents' lack of form, Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini insists the English giants are still a dangerous team and will be hungry to prove their critics wrong.

He told the press: "I think they’re going to want to react aren’t they quite clearly. They’re going to want to pull out a really good reaction in front of their fans.

"It’s true to say that perhaps they’ve had a couple of setbacks of late but by the same token I saw the game against Leicester and in the first half in particular they played really well.

"You have to bear in mind that sometimes you’re playing against good teams.

"I think that the fact of the matter is we’re playing against a top team. We are playing a top team & I don’t think they’re in crisis or difficulty from that point of view. I don’t think that’s the case at all."

Atalanta have made a decent start to their Serie A campaign and sit in sixth, one point outside of the Champions League qualification spots.

United's most recent result was a devastating 4-2 Premier League defeat to Leicester and Solskjaer is keen for his team to bounce back against the Italians.

He told the press: "Every team will go through a period and we are in one now of poor form. We know that and we know we need to improve.

"As I have said so many times, the coaching staff we have are amazing, their attention to detail and the sessions they put on, I couldn't ask for more.

Will Manchester United pick up three crucial points against Atalanta? Let us know in the comments below

"Of course it is not a gimmicky, jovial and happy camp. We are focussed and determined. You look at yourself and ask what you can do to help the team.

"I have seen a reaction. Conceding four goals [against Leicester] is a big eye-opener and we need to improve on different levels and on loads of detail.

"Winning at home against Atalanta would be massive and a big boost."

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