Gian Piero Gasperini believes Atalanta have what it takes to cause another upset when they face Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
Atalanta shocked Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final back in May, ending the Bundesliga champions' season-long unbeaten run with an emphatic 3-0 victory.
They also pulled off an impressive victory over Liverpool in the quarter-final en route to just their second major trophy, and first in Europe, as they well and truly lived up to their underdog status.
Now, with Champions League winners Madrid on the horizon, Gasperini backed his team to put in another big performance to flip the script once more.
"On paper, we're even more of an underdog than we were against Leverkusen, who were coming into the [Europa League final] unbeaten in an entire season," Gasperini told a press conference on Tuesday.
"Real Madrid will be an even greater hurdle but that means we're even more motivated. It doesn't happen often, but you can overturn the odds in football."
Atalanta do have selection problems ahead of the meeting in Warsaw though, with striker Gianluca Scamacca, who scored six goals in the Europa League last season, set to be out for six months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a pre-season friendly.
They are also without Teun Koopmeiners, who is reportedly set to join Juventus, and Gasperini admitted it did make things harder not having a full squad at his disposal.
"It's clear that you'd like to go into such a game with a full squad and play your best players to get to the top of your game," Gasperini said.
"But even when we went to Liverpool or other [top] teams, and we often found ourselves with some difficulties, I always asked the guys to play a good game, without thinking of who's there or who's not there."
Camavinga to miss start of Real Madrid's LaLiga season
Eduardo Camavinga will miss the start of Real Madrid's season after suffering a knee injury during training for the UEFA Super Cup, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old's injury happened during a training session on Tuesday ahead of their Super Cup clash with Europa League winners Atalanta.
"After the tests carried out today, our player Eduardo Camavinga has been diagnosed with a sprain of the internal collateral ligament in his left knee," a club statement said.
Camavinga, who made 46 appearances for Madrid in all competitions last season, is reportedly expected to miss up to seven weeks of the campaign.
He will miss the Super Cup on Wednesday and could be out of action for as many as seven LaLiga games as well as the beginning of their Champions League defence.
Madrid's title defence will begin at Real Mallorca on Sunday.
Vinicius rumours 'just speculation', says Ancelotti amid Saudi interest
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that rumours linking Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior with a move to Saudi Arabia are nothing more than "just speculation".
Vinicius, who scored 24 goals in all competitions for Real last season, has received interest from the Saudi Pro League, reportedly considering the proposal.
The Brazilian is currently preparing for Los Blancos' UEFA Super Cup clash against Atalanta on Wednesday, with Ancelotti quick to dismiss reports of a departure.
"There isn't anything at all," Ancelotti said on Tuesday. "There's just speculation, at this time in the market. There's just speculation, nothing else."
Vinicius helped Real claim a domestic double last year, winning his third La Liga title and scoring in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
The 24-year-old has the chance to win a 13th major honour in his sixth year as a Madrid player on Wednesday, with Ancelotti expecting him to be on top form in Warsaw.
"Of course speculation doesn't affect [Vinicius]," Ancelotti continued. "He's here, he wants to be here. He wants to do his best and help Real Madrid."
Ancelotti also shrugged off suggestions that Madrid's sporting project was under threat from Saudi Arabia's growing investment in the sport.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar have all made the move to the Middle East over the past two years, with many other high-profile names following suit.
"No, absolutely not," Ancelotti said. "We have our project and we continue in that. We have a squad of great quality.
"We've lost important players and we've brought in others who have to adapt.
"We have to work to maintain the atmosphere, and the commitment, which was the key last year."
Rossi inspires Crew comeback to end Inter Miami's Leagues Cup defence
The Columbus Crew came from two goals down to put an end to Inter Miami's Leagues Cup defence, winning 3-2 at the Lower.com Field on Wednesday.
Matias Rojas and Diego Gomez had given the visitors a comfortable lead just beyond the hour-mark, only for Christian Ramirez's strike to spark an unlikely turnaround.
Diego Rossi netted twice in 11 second half minutes to confirm the win as Wilfried Nancy's side advanced to the quarter-finals where they will face New York City FC.
Despite still being without Lionel Messi, Miami started brightly and were rewarded for their fast start when Rojas headed past Nicholas Hagen in the 10th minute.
Columbus finished the opening 45 the better side, but found themselves two goals down after the break as Gomez curled home their second following Luis Suarez's pass.
But Nancy's side would respond five minutes later as Max Arfsten's teasing delivery was powerfully headed home by Ramirez inside the penalty area.
The hosts found themselves level moments later when Cucho Hernandez's cross to the back post picked out Rossi to finish beyond Drake Callender.
Rossi grabbed his 15th goal of the season 10 minutes from time, finishing from a tight angle following a clever pass by Mohamed Farsi to confirm the triumph.
"Today, even after a defeat, we will continue trying to achieve some title in the local league, which is what remains," Miami head coach Gerardo Martino said.
"But I cannot accept that all this is measured based on whether you won or lost, I accept it because they are the rules of the game."
Data Debrief: Rossi brace continues Crew's sensational home form
Columbus continued their fine home form under Nancy and are now unbeaten in their last seven games on home soil in all competitions (W6 D1).
Rossi was the standout for the Crew, contributing 0.88 expected goals (xG) to Columbus' 1.79 total at the conclusion of the thrilling encounter.
Miami failed to make their opportunities in front of goal count, only managing three shots on target from the 12 they attempted while also missing five big chances.
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