ATALANTA’S Champions League fairy tale continued as they put Valencia to the sword.
The Italian minnows are enjoying their first taste of Europe’s elite competition.
Hans Hateboer (L) scored twice as Atalanta romped to victory over ValenciaCredit: Getty Images
Valencia need a miracle at the Mestalla in the return leg to keep their European hopes aliveCredit: AP:Associated Press
And they have one foot in the last eight after strikes from Hans Hateboer, Josip Ilicic and Remo Freuler.
The Serie A side did not even have the comfort of their natural home in this first leg.
Their regular ground not meeting Uefa’s stadium standards so used the San Siro instead.
But that had no effect on Atalanta, who scored four goals in just over an hour to produce yet another Euro giant-killing.
Defender Hateboer got his side off to the perfect start after just 16 minutes.
Then Ilicic smacked a screamer into the top corner three minutes before the break.
Freuler curled home an equally impressive strike on 57 minutes.
And Hateboer grabbed his second after a run-in from the halfway line.
Denis Cheryshev pulled one back for the Spaniards, but they need a miracle at the Mestalla in order to reach the quarters.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
