Discover Bergamo
## Atalanta Bergamo – history, triumphs, rivalries and fascinating stories
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio represent one of the most remarkable stories in modern European football. For decades, the Bergamo club were regarded as a traditional provincial side known for developing talented players and competing against wealthier opponents. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, however, Atalanta transformed into Champions League regulars and eventually became European trophy winners.
Their black-and-blue shirts, crest featuring the head of the mythical Atalanta and fiercely loyal supporters have created an identity deeply connected to the city of Bergamo.
### A club named after a mythical heroine
Atalanta were founded on 17 October 1907 by five young men from Bergamo. The club was named after Atalanta, the fast and fearless huntress from Greek mythology. Her figure later became the central feature of the club crest and inspired the team’s famous nickname, La Dea – the Goddess.
The original Atalanta played in black and white. The current black-and-blue colours were adopted after a 1920 merger with the blue-and-white Società Bergamasca di Ginnastica e Scherma. The merger also produced the club’s present official name, Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio.
Atalanta are traditionally known as the Regina delle provinciali – the Queen of the Provincial Clubs. The nickname reflects their ability to compete with Italy’s biggest teams despite coming from a considerably smaller city than Milan, Rome, Turin or Naples.
### A first trophy and a European miracle
Atalanta won their first major trophy in 1963. They defeated Torino 3–1 in the Coppa Italia final at San Siro, with Angelo Domenghini scoring all three goals. Bergamo would then have to wait for more than 60 years to celebrate another major senior title.
The club still managed to create several remarkable European stories. During the 1987/88 season, Atalanta reached the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals despite playing in Serie B at the time. Emiliano Mondonico’s team, captained by Sweden international Glenn Strömberg, eliminated Merthyr Tydfil, OFI Crete and Sporting CP before losing to eventual champions KV Mechelen.
Three years later, Atalanta also reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Inter Milan. These runs established the club’s reputation for upsetting opponents with far greater financial resources.
### Gasperini’s football revolution
The most successful period in Atalanta’s history began with the arrival of Gian Piero Gasperini in 2016. His team played brave, physically demanding and highly attacking football based on man-to-man defending, aggressive pressing and defenders constantly joining the attack.
Atalanta finished third in Serie A for three consecutive seasons and scored a club-record 98 league goals during the 2019/20 campaign. In 2019, they qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
During their debut campaign, Atalanta progressed all the way to the quarter-finals. They recovered after losing their opening three group matches, eliminated Valencia and came within minutes of reaching the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain. Alejandro “Papu” Gómez, Josip Iličić, Duván Zapata, Luis Muriel, Robin Gosens and Marten de Roon became some of the defining players of this era.
Gasperini spent nine seasons in Bergamo and transformed a provincial club into a respected force in European football.
### The historic night in Dublin
The greatest victory in Atalanta’s history arrived on 22 May 2024 in the Europa League final in Dublin. Their opponents were Bayer Leverkusen, who entered the match unbeaten in 51 consecutive competitive games.
Atalanta produced a dominant performance and won 3–0, with Ademola Lookman scoring a historic hat-trick. It was the club’s first European trophy and ended a 61-year wait for a major senior title.
On their way to the final, Atalanta eliminated Sporting CP, Liverpool and Marseille. Their 3–0 victory at Anfield was particularly impressive and demonstrated that they were no longer simply entertaining outsiders, but a team capable of defeating Europe’s elite.
The triumph also earned Atalanta a place in the UEFA Super Cup, where they were beaten 2–0 by Real Madrid. Gasperini’s extraordinary nine-year reign came to an end in the summer of 2025.
### The rivalry with Brescia
Atalanta’s greatest rivals are not one of the major Milan clubs, but nearby Brescia. Their meeting is usually called the Derby di Lombardia, and its roots go much deeper than football.
Bergamo and Brescia are separated by approximately 50 kilometres, while the rivalry between the two cities can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Their football matches are therefore shaped by intense local pride, provocative displays and, historically, security problems between rival supporters.
One of the derby’s most famous moments occurred in 2001. Brescia trailed 3–1 before two goals from Roberto Baggio rescued a draw. Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone then ran towards the Atalanta supporters who had been insulting him during the match. His furious celebration became one of the most recognisable scenes in Serie A history.
Atalanta also contest regional matches against Inter, AC Milan, Cremonese and Monza, but none carry the same emotional importance for their supporters as the rivalry with Brescia.
### Controversies and difficult moments
The biggest scandal in Atalanta’s modern history arrived in 2011 during an investigation into manipulated matches and illegal betting. The Italian Football Federation punished the club with a six-point deduction for the 2011/12 season.
Club captain and former fan favourite Cristiano Doni received a three-and-a-half-year ban from football. The investigation concerned matches from the previous Serie B campaign and seriously damaged the reputation of a player who had previously been one of the most popular figures in Atalanta’s history.
The club’s most famous Champions League campaign is also connected to one of Bergamo’s most painful periods. Atalanta’s home match against Valencia in February 2020 was moved to San Siro, where it was attended by tens of thousands of supporters from Bergamo. After the devastating outbreak of the pandemic in the region, the match was retrospectively discussed as an event that may have accelerated transmission. Its precise impact could never be established reliably. One of Atalanta’s greatest sporting achievements consequently became inseparable from a period of tragedy for the entire city.
### Interesting facts about Atalanta
Atalanta possess one of Italy’s most highly respected football academies. The club’s focus on scouting and developing young players has allowed it to compete against teams with significantly larger budgets. Players who developed within its youth system include Gaetano Scirea, Roberto Donadoni, Riccardo Montolivo, Giampaolo Pazzini, Giacomo Bonaventura and Alessandro Bastoni.
The academy at the club’s Zingonia training centre is closely associated with legendary talent scout Mino Favini. Under his guidance, it became one of the most respected youth systems in European football.
Atalanta’s home stadium in Bergamo was originally built in 1928. The club acquired full ownership in 2017 and subsequently completed an extensive redevelopment. Since September 2025, it has been known as the New Balance Arena, having previously carried the sponsored name Gewiss Stadium.
The club also introduced a redesigned crest in 2026. The mythical Atalanta remains its central feature, while the five strands of her hair pay tribute to the five men who founded the club in 1907.
Attending an Atalanta match offers a different experience from visiting the giant stadiums of Milan or Rome. The compact ground, proximity to the pitch and noise generated by the Curva Nord create an intense atmosphere closely connected to Bergamo. The Brescia derby is the ultimate local occasion, while matches against Inter, AC Milan, Juventus and European opponents also produce memorable nights.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio represent one of the most remarkable stories in modern European football. For decades, the Bergamo club were regarded as a traditional provincial side known for developing talented players and competing against wealthier opponents. Under Gian Piero Gasperini, however, Atalanta transformed into Champions League regulars and eventually became European trophy winners.
Their black-and-blue shirts, crest featuring the head of the mythical Atalanta and fiercely loyal supporters have created an identity deeply connected to the city of Bergamo.
### A club named after a mythical heroine
Atalanta were founded on 17 October 1907 by five young men from Bergamo. The club was named after Atalanta, the fast and fearless huntress from Greek mythology. Her figure later became the central feature of the club crest and inspired the team’s famous nickname, La Dea – the Goddess.
The original Atalanta played in black and white. The current black-and-blue colours were adopted after a 1920 merger with the blue-and-white Società Bergamasca di Ginnastica e Scherma. The merger also produced the club’s present official name, Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio.
Atalanta are traditionally known as the Regina delle provinciali – the Queen of the Provincial Clubs. The nickname reflects their ability to compete with Italy’s biggest teams despite coming from a considerably smaller city than Milan, Rome, Turin or Naples.
### A first trophy and a European miracle
Atalanta won their first major trophy in 1963. They defeated Torino 3–1 in the Coppa Italia final at San Siro, with Angelo Domenghini scoring all three goals. Bergamo would then have to wait for more than 60 years to celebrate another major senior title.
The club still managed to create several remarkable European stories. During the 1987/88 season, Atalanta reached the European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals despite playing in Serie B at the time. Emiliano Mondonico’s team, captained by Sweden international Glenn Strömberg, eliminated Merthyr Tydfil, OFI Crete and Sporting CP before losing to eventual champions KV Mechelen.
Three years later, Atalanta also reached the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by Inter Milan. These runs established the club’s reputation for upsetting opponents with far greater financial resources.
### Gasperini’s football revolution
The most successful period in Atalanta’s history began with the arrival of Gian Piero Gasperini in 2016. His team played brave, physically demanding and highly attacking football based on man-to-man defending, aggressive pressing and defenders constantly joining the attack.
Atalanta finished third in Serie A for three consecutive seasons and scored a club-record 98 league goals during the 2019/20 campaign. In 2019, they qualified for the Champions League for the first time.
During their debut campaign, Atalanta progressed all the way to the quarter-finals. They recovered after losing their opening three group matches, eliminated Valencia and came within minutes of reaching the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain. Alejandro “Papu” Gómez, Josip Iličić, Duván Zapata, Luis Muriel, Robin Gosens and Marten de Roon became some of the defining players of this era.
Gasperini spent nine seasons in Bergamo and transformed a provincial club into a respected force in European football.
### The historic night in Dublin
The greatest victory in Atalanta’s history arrived on 22 May 2024 in the Europa League final in Dublin. Their opponents were Bayer Leverkusen, who entered the match unbeaten in 51 consecutive competitive games.
Atalanta produced a dominant performance and won 3–0, with Ademola Lookman scoring a historic hat-trick. It was the club’s first European trophy and ended a 61-year wait for a major senior title.
On their way to the final, Atalanta eliminated Sporting CP, Liverpool and Marseille. Their 3–0 victory at Anfield was particularly impressive and demonstrated that they were no longer simply entertaining outsiders, but a team capable of defeating Europe’s elite.
The triumph also earned Atalanta a place in the UEFA Super Cup, where they were beaten 2–0 by Real Madrid. Gasperini’s extraordinary nine-year reign came to an end in the summer of 2025.
### The rivalry with Brescia
Atalanta’s greatest rivals are not one of the major Milan clubs, but nearby Brescia. Their meeting is usually called the Derby di Lombardia, and its roots go much deeper than football.
Bergamo and Brescia are separated by approximately 50 kilometres, while the rivalry between the two cities can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Their football matches are therefore shaped by intense local pride, provocative displays and, historically, security problems between rival supporters.
One of the derby’s most famous moments occurred in 2001. Brescia trailed 3–1 before two goals from Roberto Baggio rescued a draw. Brescia coach Carlo Mazzone then ran towards the Atalanta supporters who had been insulting him during the match. His furious celebration became one of the most recognisable scenes in Serie A history.
Atalanta also contest regional matches against Inter, AC Milan, Cremonese and Monza, but none carry the same emotional importance for their supporters as the rivalry with Brescia.
### Controversies and difficult moments
The biggest scandal in Atalanta’s modern history arrived in 2011 during an investigation into manipulated matches and illegal betting. The Italian Football Federation punished the club with a six-point deduction for the 2011/12 season.
Club captain and former fan favourite Cristiano Doni received a three-and-a-half-year ban from football. The investigation concerned matches from the previous Serie B campaign and seriously damaged the reputation of a player who had previously been one of the most popular figures in Atalanta’s history.
The club’s most famous Champions League campaign is also connected to one of Bergamo’s most painful periods. Atalanta’s home match against Valencia in February 2020 was moved to San Siro, where it was attended by tens of thousands of supporters from Bergamo. After the devastating outbreak of the pandemic in the region, the match was retrospectively discussed as an event that may have accelerated transmission. Its precise impact could never be established reliably. One of Atalanta’s greatest sporting achievements consequently became inseparable from a period of tragedy for the entire city.
### Interesting facts about Atalanta
Atalanta possess one of Italy’s most highly respected football academies. The club’s focus on scouting and developing young players has allowed it to compete against teams with significantly larger budgets. Players who developed within its youth system include Gaetano Scirea, Roberto Donadoni, Riccardo Montolivo, Giampaolo Pazzini, Giacomo Bonaventura and Alessandro Bastoni.
The academy at the club’s Zingonia training centre is closely associated with legendary talent scout Mino Favini. Under his guidance, it became one of the most respected youth systems in European football.
Atalanta’s home stadium in Bergamo was originally built in 1928. The club acquired full ownership in 2017 and subsequently completed an extensive redevelopment. Since September 2025, it has been known as the New Balance Arena, having previously carried the sponsored name Gewiss Stadium.
The club also introduced a redesigned crest in 2026. The mythical Atalanta remains its central feature, while the five strands of her hair pay tribute to the five men who founded the club in 1907.
Attending an Atalanta match offers a different experience from visiting the giant stadiums of Milan or Rome. The compact ground, proximity to the pitch and noise generated by the Curva Nord create an intense atmosphere closely connected to Bergamo. The Brescia derby is the ultimate local occasion, while matches against Inter, AC Milan, Juventus and European opponents also produce memorable nights.
