Bellanova left out as Atalanta name 20 for Pafos opener

Raoul Bellanova will miss Atalanta’s Conference League opener against Pafos, but his absence is precautionary rather than a confirmed longer-term setback. Maurizio Sarri has named a 20-man squad for the first match of the league phase, with six other players also omitted.

The right-back is being rested for precautionary reasons, according to Atalanta’s squad announcement. Isak Hien, Kessie, Odilon Kossounou, Pompei, Giorgio Scalvini and Sulemana are also unavailable for the match. Hien is listed with a muscle injury, Kossounou with a thigh injury and Sulemana with a knee injury; no reasons were given for the other three omissions.

Atalanta’s squad includes goalkeepers Marco Carnesecchi, Marco Sportiello and Mattia Sonzogni, alongside Charles De Ketelaere, Éderson, Eljif Elmas, Gianluca Gaetano, Javison Idele, Sead Kolašinac, Thomas Kristensen, Nikola Krstović, Relja Obrić, Mario Pašalić, Giacomo Raspadori, Jonathan Rowe, Lazar Samardžić, Gianluca Scamacca, Lorenzo Bernasconi, Nicola Zalewski and Davide Zappacosta.

The opener is scheduled for 21:00 in Bergamo. Bellanova’s absence changes Atalanta’s options at right-back for this match, while the club’s stated reason offers no indication of a longer absence. Atalanta will need to manage the selection issue in a busy run: they sit 10th in Serie A with nine points from six games and are due to face AC Milan away on Sunday, 18 October, at 18:00 CEST.

The Pafos match begins Atalanta’s 2026/27 Conference League league-phase campaign. Sarri’s squad has 20 players available for the opener, with the listed injury absences adding to Bellanova’s precautionary rest.