Atalanta - Athletic Club: final summer test in Bergamo
Atalanta and Athletic Club meet on Friday, August 14, 2026, at New Balance Arena in Bergamo in a match that will decide the 27th edition of the Trofeo Achille e Cesare Bortolotti. According to the latest announcements from both clubs, kick-off is at 20:45 CEST. For Atalanta, it will also be their first appearance in front of the home crowd under Maurizio Sarri, while Athletic Club arrive in Italy in the final stage of their first preseason with Edin Terzić.
The result will not bring points in the league table, but the timing of the match gives it considerably greater importance than an ordinary summer test. Atalanta are approaching a European play-off and the start of the new league season, while Athletic Club open their league campaign against Sevilla FC only eight days after their visit to Bergamo.
The Trofeo Bortolotti is dedicated to former Atalanta presidents Achille and Cesare Bortolotti. This year, the hosts have chosen as their opponent a club that has already left Bergamo with a victory once during 2026, which also gives the match a clear sporting storyline.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters.
Why this is not just another friendly match
Atalanta will use the final days of preparation to help Sarri bring the team closer to competitive rhythm. The new coach took over the squad after the club finished the previous league season in fifth place. The Trofeo Bortolotti comes at a moment when experiments involving a large number of substitutions must gradually give way to a clearer hierarchy, a more stable back line and combinations that should work once matches begin under full competitive pressure.
Athletic Club have a similar motivation. Terzić began preparations at the start of July, and Bergamo is planned as the eighth and final summer test. Before that, the Basque team visit Olympique de Marseille on August 9. Since that match is only being played later today, its result is not included in the assessment of current form.
For both coaches, therefore, how the team reacts under serious pressure is more important than how many substitutions will be made after the break. Atalanta need to confirm that they can control the match through Sarri's structure, while Athletic want to maintain their aggression without the ball and the verticality that has already produced goals during preparations.
Atalanta: Sarri is getting increasingly clear answers
The latest signal from Atalanta's camp is very positive. On August 8, the team defeated Schalke 04 3-0 at the Veltins-Arena. Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring after a pass from Gianluca Gaetano, Lazar Samardžić finished a long counterattack for the second goal, and Nikola Krstović set the final score late in the match.
Sarri started the match with Marco Carnesecchi in goal, Raoul Bellanova, Odilon Kossounou, Giorgio Scalvini and Honest Ahanor in the back line, while Samardžić, Gaetano and Éderson played in midfield. Charles De Ketelaere, Scamacca and Giacomo Raspadori formed the attacking trio. Such a selection provides a fairly clear indication of a structure with four defenders, a midfield that wants to play through possession and three highly dangerous players around the penalty area.
Several confirmed results from Atalanta's preparations show how the team has developed:
- Atalanta - Mantova 1-1, with a goal from Lazar Samardžić.
- Atalanta - Arezzo 3-2, after coming back from two goals behind.
- Schalke 04 - Atalanta 0-3, with goals from Scamacca, Samardžić and Krstović.
The competition in attack is particularly interesting. Scamacca scored against Schalke, Krstović also found the net, while Raspadori gives Sarri a player who can connect midfield and the finishing phase. Against Schalke, Samardžić showed another dimension - he won the ball deep inside his own half, carried it across almost the entire pitch and finished the move himself.
For Athletic, this means it will not be enough simply to stop a traditional centre-forward. Atalanta can attack through the middle, via the wide players and from deeper positions.
The hosts' latest specific personnel concern involves Kamaldeen Sulemana. Against Schalke, he had to leave shortly after coming on because of a sprain to his left knee, and Atalanta announced that he will undergo further examinations. At the time of writing, there is no confirmed prognosis regarding his availability for Athletic Club.
Athletic Club: pressing already looks like a serious weapon
Athletic's preseason began against weaker opponents, but Terzić's team subsequently raised the level while continuing to achieve results. In their last two completed matches before today's visit to Marseille, they defeated Racing Club de Santander and Burgos CF 3-0 in both games.
Against Racing, Gorka Guruzeta's opening goal came after successful high pressing and an assist from Peio Canales. Oihan Sancet and Johaneko Louis-Jean added goals late in the match. Three days later, Athletic again kept a clean sheet in Burgos, with Jesús Areso, Robert Navarro and Iñaki Williams scoring.
The last five completed preseason matches before Marseille look like this:
- Burgos CF - Athletic Club 0-3.
- Real Racing Club de Santander - Athletic Club 0-3.
- Athletic Club - SD Eibar 2-2.
- Sestao River Club - Athletic Club 0-2.
- SD Leioa - Athletic Club 0-11.
Iñaki Williams is a particularly interesting name ahead of Bergamo. The match in Burgos was his first appearance of this preseason, and he immediately marked it with a close-range goal. Guruzeta had already shown a good instinct for finishing during July, Sancet can attack space from midfield, while Navarro scored against Burgos and was one of the players who decided the previous meeting between these clubs a few months ago.
The status of some of Athletic's biggest names, however, needs to be monitored right up until the squad for Bergamo is announced. Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte and Nico Williams were not among the 25 players called up for the friendly match in Marseille. All three joined the club programme later after a long summer international tournament, so their absence from one preseason match should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation that they will not travel to Italy.
Bergamo already has a fresh memory of Athletic
Atalanta and Athletic Club met at the same stadium on January 21, 2026, in a European match that the visitors won 3-2.
Atalanta took the lead through Scamacca in the 16th minute after Zalewski's cross. The hosts had chances to extend their lead in the first half, but the match changed completely after the break. Guruzeta equalised in the 58th minute, Nico Serrano scored in the 70th, and Robert Navarro increased the visitors' lead to 3-1 four minutes later. Krstović reduced the deficit to 3-2 in the 88th minute, but Athletic held on for the victory.
That result gives the home supporters an additional reason for interest, but tactically it should not be directly applied to the August match. Atalanta were then coached by Raffaele Palladino, while Athletic were led by Ernesto Valverde. Sarri and Terzić are now on the benches, both in the early stages of working with their teams.
Nevertheless, several players who made their mark in the January encounter can still play leading roles. Scamacca and Krstović are again among Atalanta's most dangerous forwards, while Guruzeta and Navarro have started Athletic Club's preparations well.
Tactical details worth watching
Sarri's teams aim to build attacks in an organised way, with precise positions in midfield. Against Schalke, it was possible to see Atalanta's desire not to depend only on crosses and individual moves. Gaetano played Scamacca through the defensive line, while Samardžić showed that the team can quickly punish an opponent's lost possession.
Athletic have shown during preparations how dangerous they can be when their pressing starts working high in the opposition half. Guruzeta's goal against Racing came directly from such a situation. If Terzić attempts the same in Bergamo, one of the key parts of the match will be Atalanta's build-up from the back line.
Several possible duels are particularly worth watching:
- Scamacca or Krstović against Athletic's centre-backs - Atalanta have different profiles of forwards and can change the way they finish attacks.
- Samardžić between midfield and attack - his ball-carrying ability can break the first line of pressure.
- Guruzeta against Scalvini and the rest of Atalanta's defence - Athletic's striker already scored in Bergamo in January.
- Athletic's high pressing against Sarri's build-up - a mistake near the penalty area here can immediately become a goalscoring opportunity.
- Wide channels - Bellanova and Zappacosta offer Atalanta penetration, while Athletic have players capable of quickly attacking space after winning the ball.
As these are the final preparations, substitutions should also be expected. But five days before Atalanta's European challenge and eight days before Athletic's league start, the coaches no longer have much time for experiments unrelated to the plan for competitive matches.
New Balance Arena: a compact stage in Bergamo
New Balance Arena is located at Viale Giulio Cesare 18. The stadium was built in 1928 and, according to Lega Serie A data, now holds 23,439 spectators. It has used the name New Balance Arena since September 2025, following a change to the stadium's commercial name.
For the Trofeo Bortolotti, the home context is important. It will not only be a presentation of the team ahead of the new season, but also a traditional evening dedicated to Achille and Cesare Bortolotti. Atalanta have also announced tributes to former club official Mario Bresciani and doctor Valter Polini.
The stadium is located within the urban fabric rather than in an isolated complex outside Bergamo. Because of this, arriving by public transport is more practical than trying to drive directly to the area near the entrances, especially once the special matchday traffic arrangements begin.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
How to get to the stadium and what to know before setting off
For supporters visiting Bergamo for the first time, the most important thing is to plan the final part of the journey in advance. Atalanta state that a special traffic system operates around the stadium on matchdays.
- By train: after arriving at Bergamo FS, the bus station is nearby, and ATB line 9 runs toward the stadium.
- By air: Milano Bergamo Airport is connected to the city centre by Airport Bus line 1. From the bus station area, the journey toward the stadium can continue on line 9.
- By car: from the A4 motorway, use the Bergamo exit, then take the ring road toward Valli di Bergamo and follow signs for the stadium and Viale Giulio Cesare.
- On matchday: Atalanta state that motor vehicle traffic around the stadium is restricted from two hours before kick-off until approximately half an hour after the end of the match. During that period, public transport is recommended for arrival.
- Entry: Athletic Club specifically warned its supporters that an identity card or passport is required upon entry, so an identification document should be brought together with the ticket.
For parking, therefore, it is not advisable to count on finding a space immediately next to the stadium. Traffic closures and restricted-access zones can alter the usual routes, so the safer plan is to leave the car outside the immediate stadium area and complete the final part of the journey by public transport or on foot.
The exact opening time of the gates for this match is not specified in the verified announcements. For other matches at New Balance Arena, the club regularly recommends arriving early because of pre-screening, ticket checks and security controls, so the same approach also makes sense for the Trofeo Bortolotti.
Bergamo for supporters arriving from other cities
Bergamo lies in Lombardy in northern Italy and has very practical transport connections for international visitors. The airport is around five kilometres from the city, and the Airport Bus connects the terminal with the railway station and central areas of Bergamo.
For visitors arriving several hours early, Città Alta is the city's best-known historic district, while the stadium lies lower down and east of the main centre of Città Bassa. Because of the evening kick-off, it is possible to combine sightseeing and the match, but it is wise to head toward the stadium before traffic restrictions around Viale Giulio Cesare become the main factor.
Friday also means that the special free summer tourist supporter lines organised by ATB on Sundays and public holidays during 2026 cannot automatically be considered a solution for this match. For getting to the stadium, the relevant service is the regular line 9 indicated by Atalanta.
What kind of match to expect in the stands and on the pitch
The Trofeo Bortolotti traditionally carries emotional significance for Atalanta's supporters, but the choice of Athletic Club as the opponent also guarantees a sufficiently serious sporting test. The visitors have organised pressing, good results during preparations and a number of players who have already experienced what it is like to win in Bergamo. The hosts, meanwhile, enter the final stage of the summer after a convincing 3-0 victory over Schalke and with several forwards simultaneously competing for a place in Sarri's starting line-up.
If Atalanta use a team similar to the one in Gelsenkirchen, home supporters can expect Scamacca as the central focal point of the attack, Raspadori and De Ketelaere in more mobile roles, and Samardžić and Éderson as players capable of accelerating possession from midfield.
Athletic will probably try to make the match physically and rhythmically demanding. Guruzeta has already shown that he punishes mistakes in playing out from the back, Sancet attacks space from deeper positions, and Iñaki Williams returned with a goal. Navarro comes to Bergamo with additional confidence because he scored both in the January comeback and in the preseason victory against Burgos.
The question of Nico Williams, Unai Simón and Aymeric Laporte will remain open until Terzić announces the squad for the trip to Italy. Their potential availability would significantly increase the number of top-level individual duels, but at this moment there is not enough information to present their participation as certain.
Ticket sales for this match are ongoing.
For travelling supporters, the most practical plan remains simple: arrive in Bergamo early enough, do not count on driving directly to the stadium shortly before kick-off, bring an identification document and leave enough time for entry checks. On the pitch at the same time, a much more interesting final test will unfold - Sarri's search for the right Atalanta line-up against Terzić's team, which has already shown that it can punish opponents through pressing and quickly turn a recovered ball into an opportunity.
Sources:
- Atalanta - announcement of the 27th Trofeo Achille e Cesare Bortolotti, match time and context of the end of Atalanta's preparations.
- Atalanta - report on Schalke 04 - Atalanta 0-3, line-ups, scorers and medical information on Kamaldeen Sulemana.
- Atalanta - reports from the preseason matches against Mantova and Arezzo and player lists during the preparation period.
- Athletic Club - announcement of the visit to Bergamo, preparation schedule and information on the latest summer matches.
- Athletic Club - reports from the 3-0 victories over Racing Club de Santander and Burgos CF and the squad list for the match in Marseille.
- Atalanta and Athletic Club - reports from the head-to-head match in Bergamo on January 21, 2026, which ended 2-3.
- Lega Serie A - information on New Balance Arena, stadium capacity, year of construction and address.
- Atalanta - instructions for getting to New Balance Arena, traffic restrictions and ATB line 9.
- ATB Bergamo and Visit Bergamo - current information on public transport, the airport and city traffic.