Atalanta vs Hapoel Tel Aviv Predictions

• Atalanta have won their last two pre-season games to nil
• Hapoel have conceded two goals on both previous European away trips this season
• Hapoel have failed to score in three of their four previous matches against Italian clubs

Sarri sets the tone at Atalanta

The early signs under Maurizio Sarri suggest Atalanta will not give much away when they host Hapoel Tel Aviv in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play‑off on Thursday evening.

La Dea’s pre‑season under the ex-Lazio and Chelsea boss has been steady rather than spectacular, but a 1‑0 win over Athletic Bilbao — sealed by Nicola Zalewski — hinted at the structure and discipline the veteran coach is already instilling.

Last season’s turbulent campaign, which began poorly under Ivan Juric before Raffaele Palladino steadied the ship, ultimately delivered another shot at European qualification. Now Sarri must finish the job while his squad adjust to his methods.

Schalke result looks impressive

The previous weekend’s 3-0 win at Schalke was very impressive and the fact that Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid then secured exactly the same result against the newly promoted Bundesliga side only adds to the credibility.

Atalanta’s injuries at centre‑back mean Thomas Kristensen may be thrown straight into Sarri’s new back‑four system, while Ederson should anchor midfield after his move to Manchester United collapsed. Gianluca Scamacca is expected to lead the line, supported by Lazar Samardzic, who scored four Champions League goals last season.

They should brush aside a Hapoel Tel Aviv team that lost the away leg of their third-round qualifying tie against Katowice, scraping through 3-2 on aggregate. A trip to Bergamo represents a significant step up in quality for the Israelis, who return to European competition after a 12-year hiatus.