Atalanta BC vs Athletic Club

Atalanta claimed the 27th Trofeo Bortolotti with a tidy 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, settled by a sharp piece of individual quality just after the restart. A cagey, goalless first half gave little indication of what was to come, with both sides feeling each other out in preparation for the season ahead. The breakthrough arrived only 46 seconds into the second half, when Nicola Zalewski drifted in from the right, faked a cross, cut onto his left foot, and beat goalkeeper Unai Simón at the near post. Athletic pushed for a response, with Maroan testing the hosts before the break and Canales sending a late chance over the bar, but the visitors couldn't find the finishing touch. No cards or penalties were shown. For Maurizio Sarri's Atalanta, the clean sheet and composed display offer encouraging signs ahead of their Conference League playoff opener against Hapoel Tel Aviv, even as questions remain over their attack without the injured De Ketelaere. Athletic Bilbao showed flashes of quality despite missing key players, leaving Ernesto Valverde with useful takeaways as preseason winds down.