Atalanta vs Hapoel Tel Aviv

Atalanta launch their 2026/27 European campaign on Thursday evening as they host Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round tie. La Dea, Europa League winners in 2024, dropped into the continent’s third-tier competition after a difficult Serie A season and must negotiate this two-legged playoff to reach the league phase. Hapoel Tel Aviv arrive in Bergamo having edged past Poland’s GKS Katowice 3-2 on aggregate in the previous round.

Team News and Injury Latest

Gian Piero Gasperini’s preparations have been hit by a double injury blow. Charles De Ketelaere and Honest Ahanor both pulled up during a training session at Zingonia on Wednesday and subsequent tests revealed low-grade adductor strains. The Belgian forward sustained the problem in his left leg, while the young left-back suffered a similar issue in his right. Both players are expected to be sidelined for around ten days, ruling them out of this first leg and leaving Atalanta short of attacking and defensive options. The Bergamo club were already without Kamaldeen Sulemana, who is facing two months out with a knee ligament injury.

Hapoel Tel Aviv’s Route to the Playoffs

Elyaniv Barda’s side booked their place in this round by overcoming GKS Katowice, winning the home leg 2-0 before falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat on the road in Poland. That 3-2 aggregate success was nervier than it needed to be — Ilya Shkurin and Arkadiusz Jedrych both scored late for Katowice to set up a tense finish — but Hapoel held firm to advance. The Israeli club now face a significant step up in class against Serie A opposition, with the reward a place in the Conference League group stage.

Key Battle: Gasperini’s Depleted Attack vs Barda’s Defensive Setup

With De Ketelaere absent and Sulemana already ruled out, Gasperini must reshuffle his forward line for a tie Atalanta dare not take lightly. The 2024 Europa League triumph already feels distant, and the Italians need to establish a commanding first-leg lead before travelling to neutral territory in Hungary. Hapoel Tel Aviv showed in Poland that they can ride out pressure, but keeping Atalanta at arm’s length for 90 minutes on Italian soil is a far sterner examination. How Barda’s defence handles the intensity of La Dea’s pressing will likely shape the tie.

What It Means and What Comes Next

The second leg will be held on neutral ground at the DVTK Stadium in Miskolc, Hungary, on August 27, meaning there is no return trip to Israel for Atalanta. Before that, Gasperini’s men begin their domestic season at home to Sassuolo on August 23. The winner of this playoff will enter the Conference League league phase for the 2026/27 campaign.