Atalanta’s captain, Marten de Roon, acknowledged that his team “collapsed and lost all focus” during their stunning 3-2 loss to Athletic Club. He expressed that the team displayed immaturity and succumbed to fear.
La Dea started strong in Bergamo, initially taking a 1-0 lead with a header from Gianluca Scamacca. At halftime, they found themselves in a commendable third place in the Champions League standings, a remarkable achievement for the club.
However, following a goal conceded against the run of play, the team faltered, allowing Athletic Club to go ahead 3-1, with only a late tap-in from Nikola Krstovic providing a glimmer of hope.
De Roon Reflects on Unexplained Collapse
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta celebrates scoring the team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 match against Athletic Club at Stadio di Bergamo on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“It felt like a blackout after we conceded the equalizer,” De Roon told Sky Sport Italia.
“Instead of shrugging it off, it felt like we were losing 2-0, and that led to chaos on the pitch. I’m disheartened, as we showed control in the first half and even in the second before that goal. It leaves a sour taste in our mouths.”
This defeat follows a disappointing 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Pisa just days earlier, marking yet another instance where Atalanta has faltered after dominating play.
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Robert Navarro of Athletic Club celebrates scoring the third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 match against Atalanta BC at Stadio di Bergamo on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“We are letting too many points slip away in these situations, and this was a crucial chance to secure our spot in the top eight, which we squandered. It’s tough to pinpoint the issue,” De Roon remarked.
“We displayed immaturity tonight. Conceding a goal shouldn’t send us into a crisis. We could have kept our composure. Our pressing became completely disorganized, and the team stopped functioning properly.”
“As we witnessed with Napoli, teams can score at any moment in the Champions League. We had time, yet we lost our focus entirely.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – JANUARY 21: Nikola Krstovic of Atalanta celebrates scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 match against Athletic Club at Stadio di Bergamo on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Atalanta has struggled to convert their chances this season, often leaving matches in jeopardy.
“We saw this in our match against Torino too—dominating the first half but scoring only once,” De Roon added.
“When we have control, we need to finish games decisively. I think maturity is lacking; under pressure, you have to maintain composure. Instead, we let fear take over, disappearing from the pitch, which is very concerning.”