Atalanta emerging as a Champions League contender

MILAN (AP) — Atalanta is showing itself to be a legitimate contender for the Champions League title. The small team from Bergamo is playing in the European competition for the first time this season and has been increasingly hard to beat in Serie A. The club has won nine straight matches. Seven of them were in the Italian league. Atalanta has reached the Champions League quarterfinals and will take part in a mini-tournament next month in Lisbon. Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini says “when the moment comes we will try to arrive there in the best way possible.”