The two standout sides in Group D of the Europa League meet at the Gewiss Stadium on Thursday, when Sporting Lisbon travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta BC.
A win for La Dea on matchday two means they are currently in the ascendancy to top the group, and just a point here will ensure direct passage into the last 16.
However, with only the group winners qualifying straight into the last 16, there is still plenty riding on this game for the Italian side.
A 2-1 win in Lisbon when the sides met back in October means only a draw is required, as they would then go into the final matchday three points clear with a superior head-to-head record.
It was a superb performance from Atalanta at the Jose Alvalade, as they raced into a 2-0 half-time lead where they would have felt disappointed it was not more.
There could have been less jeopardy on this game, though, had Gasperini's side not surrendered a lead against 10-man Sturm on matchday three, resulting in their only dropped points so far.
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