Atalanta vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC tickets for the Conference League play-off at New Balance Arena in Bergamo

Atalanta vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC: the first real test of the season in Bergamo

Atalanta and Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC meet in Bergamo in the first leg of the Conference League play-off, the final hurdle before the league phase of the competition. According to the hosts' latest schedule, the match at the New Balance Arena kicks off at 20:30 CEST. The return leg is seven days later at DVTK Stadium in Miskolc.

For Atalanta, this is the first competitive match of the 2026/27 season under Maurizio Sarri. Hapoel arrives in Bergamo with four European qualifying matches already under its belt. That gives the visitors competitive rhythm, but also provides the home side with enough material for preparation.

Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters, so it is worth securing a place in the stands in good time.

What's at stake

Two matches will decide who enters the league phase of the Conference League. Atalanta can complete the first part of the job in front of its own supporters, but must be careful that the desire for an early advantage does not open space for the transitions of a team that has already punished lost balls.

Atalanta won its final warm-up match against Athletic Club at the New Balance Arena 1-0, with Nicola Zalewski scoring early in the second half. A week earlier, it defeated Schalke 04 3-0, with goals from Gianluca Scamacca, Lazar Samardžić and Nikola Krstović.

Hapoel has already overcome two hurdles. Against Ludogorets, it won the first leg 2-0 and drew 2-2 in the return. It then again opened the tie against GKS Katowice with a 2-0 victory and held on to advance despite a 2-1 defeat in Poland.

• Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC - Ludogorets 2-0
• Ludogorets - Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC 2-2
• Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC - GKS Katowice 2-0
• GKS Katowice - Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC 2-1

The pattern is important: Hapoel built an advantage in the first leg in both previous rounds and then defended it away from home. In Bergamo, the roles will be reversed. Coach Elyaniv Barda must decide how early he wants to take risks.

Atalanta under Sarri is changing its style of play

During pre-season, Sarri built the team around a back four and a 4-3-3 system, with the option of switching to 4-2-3-1. This is a major change for Atalanta and one of the reasons why this match is attracting additional attention.

In midfield, Éderson provides strength and control, while Samardžić and Gianluca Gaetano offer technical quality. On the flanks, Sarri can use Zalewski, Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori, while Scamacca and Krstović provide two different options in the final third.

Against Athletic Club, Zalewski decided the match with an individual run. Scamacca started up front, while Krstović came off the bench. For Hapoel's defence, this means it cannot prepare for only one type of centre-forward.

Patience will be the key for Atalanta. If Hapoel remains compact, the home side will have to move the block and choose the right moment for a vertical pass. Too many risky balls through the middle could open up exactly what the visitors like most - a quick break toward Stav Toriel, Omri Altman or Emmanuel Boateng.

Hapoel threatens with pressing and quick attacks

Hapoel took the lead against GKS Katowice as early as the 5th minute after Altman's pass and a finish from Stav Toriel. Thirteen minutes later, Emmanuel Boateng won the ball through pressing, and Roei Alkokin scored for 2-0. It is a warning for Atalanta: the visitors do not need long spells of possession to create danger.

Against Ludogorets, goalkeeper Assaf Tzur also played an important role, saving a penalty in the return leg. Boateng scored both of Hapoel's goals in the same match, while Toriel has shown throughout this qualifying run that he can be both a scorer and a creator.

Altman, Boateng, Toriel and Alkokin offer Barda different ways out of pressure. Altman connects the lines, Boateng attacks space and presses the centre-backs, while Toriel and Alkokin can exploit open ground after the ball is won.

For the visitors, the first objective will be to survive the New Balance Arena's opening pressure without falling behind early. If the score remains level for a long time, Atalanta will probably take even more possession, and with that the space for the visitors' counter-attacks will increase.

Absences that change the home side's plan

Atalanta does not enter the tie with a fully fit squad. Isak Hien underwent surgery at the end of June because of a tendon injury in his left thigh and is undergoing rehabilitation. Kamaldeen Sulemana is also not fully available after injuring his left knee against Schalke; an examination showed a grade-two medial collateral ligament injury.

That reduces Sarri's room for rotation in a week in which the start of the domestic league follows the Hapoel match, and then comes the return leg in Miskolc.

• Isak Hien - rehabilitation after surgery on the tendon in his left thigh
• Kamaldeen Sulemana - medial collateral ligament injury in his left knee
• Giorgio Scalvini - an important option in central defence
• Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstović - two options for the centre-forward position

For Hapoel, there is not enough reliable current information to provide a specific list of injured or suspended players, so such assessments should not be invented.

Tactical battle: possession against transition

The most interesting part of the match could be the relationship between Atalanta's possession and Hapoel's pressing. Sarri wants a team that controls the ball, builds attacks through midfield and uses width. In the qualifiers, Hapoel has already scored after winning the ball, applying early pressure and breaking quickly forward.

If Atalanta plays cleanly out from the first line, Hapoel's midfield will have to drop back. Samardžić, Gaetano and Éderson will then have more time to receive the ball facing goal. If the visitors manage to direct the build-up toward the touchline and win the ball there, Boateng and Toriel can attack the defence before it is fully set.

A particular challenge for the home side will be defending after losing the ball. Sarri is only at the beginning of his work, and the transition to a new structure requires precise coordination. Hapoel does not have to dominate possession to be dangerous.

For the visitors, the greatest risk is the depth of Atalanta's squad. If the first plan does not produce a result, the home side can change profiles through Raspadori, Krstović, Pašalić and other players. That could be decisive in the final half-hour.

New Balance Arena and the atmosphere in Bergamo

The New Balance Arena has been Atalanta's home since 1928. The stadium has undergone a major renovation, and the stands behind the goals and the Tribuna Rinascimento are now covered. The pitch measures 110 x 70 metres. Curva Nord is named after Federico Pisani, while Curva Sud is named after Piermario Morosini.

The stadium is located by Viale Giulio Cesare, in the urban part of Bergamo, so public transport is a more practical choice than trying to reach the entrance itself by car. Places in the stands sell out quickly for matches with stakes like these, especially when the home side is opening its competitive season.

Getting to the stadium

Atalanta states that traffic restrictions are in place around the stadium on matchdays. Two hours before kick-off and half an hour after the end of the match, access to certain areas is restricted.

• By train: ATB line 9 runs from the main railway station toward the stadium.
• By air: the Airport Bus connects the airport with the city, and the journey toward the stadium can be continued on line 9.
• By car: from the A4 motorway, take the Bergamo exit, then follow the direction toward "Valli di Bergamo" and the stadium.
• On matchday, expect restricted traffic around Viale Giulio Cesare and allow extra time for the final part of the journey.
• The exact opening time of the gates for this match is not stated in the hosts' currently available information.

The away section of the New Balance Arena has a certified capacity of 1,304 places, with additional platforms for visitors with reduced mobility and their companions. Hapoel supporters should follow their club's instructions regarding organised travel and the rules for the away section.

Bergamo for supporters arriving early

Bergamo is a city in Lombardy whose urban landscape is divided into Città Bassa and the historic Città Alta. For visitors who have a few hours before the match, Città Alta is the city's most recognisable part: a historic centre surrounded by Venetian walls, with Piazza Vecchia as one of its main landmarks.

The main railway station is located in the lower part of the city. From there, it is easy to organise two separate routes - toward Città Alta for sightseeing or toward the New Balance Arena for the match. For visitors who want to combine both, it is more practical to leave the car farther from the stadium and use public transport.

The 20:30 CEST kick-off leaves enough time to arrive in the city earlier, but the traffic restrictions that begin two hours before the match should be taken into account.

Details that could decide the first leg

Hapoel has shown in previous rounds that it can score early. Against Katowice, it took the lead in the 5th minute and doubled its advantage in the 18th. Atalanta therefore needs a focused start without unnecessary risks in the build-up.

The home side will try to impose possession, width and several different finishing options. Hapoel will look for moments to press high and transition. If Atalanta forces the visitors to defend their own penalty area for long periods, the difference in squad depth could become increasingly important.

The result after the first 90 minutes does not finish the job. The return leg will be played in Miskolc, where Hapoel has already enjoyed strong support from its fans this season. Atalanta therefore wants to travel with an advantage, while even a narrow result in Bergamo would leave the tie open for the visitors.

Ticket sales for this match are ongoing, and for spectators the most practical approach is to plan their arrival so that the final part of the journey to the stadium does not depend on a car.

Sources:
- Atalanta - schedule for the tie against Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC, kick-off time, pre-season matches, injuries, New Balance Arena and travel to the stadium
- Hapoel Tel Aviv - reports from the qualifying matches against Ludogorets and GKS Katowice, line-ups, scorers, coach and match progression
- Sky Sport - Sarri on the 4-3-3 system, the possible 4-2-3-1 variation and the role of key players
- Visit Bergamo - Città Alta, Piazza Vecchia, the railway station and basic information for visiting the city