After achieving for Atalanta, a Russian player does not celebrate
After scoring the game-winning goal in Atalanta’s 4-0 win over Sampdoria in Serie A on Monday. Russia international Aleksei Miranchuk kept his head down and did not celebrate.
Miranchuk’s goal came just hours after Russia’s national team was barred from participating in World Cup qualifying matches. As Moscow was branded a sports pariah for its invasion of Ukraine.
Miranchuk’s goal would have been worthy of a big celebration in any other situation because it was so spectacular. Miranchuk held his hands up to indicate he would not celebrate the goal, but was quickly surround by teammates.
Miranchuk is friendly with Ukrainian teammate Ruslan Malinovskyi, who lifted his jersey to reveal a message reading “No war in Ukraine” on his undershirt after scoring in the Europa League on Thursday against Olympiakos.
“These days have been difficult,” said Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon.
“Ruslan is going through a difficult time because his family and city are in trouble. But they (Malinovskyi and Miranchuk) are always talking to each other. Between them, there is nothing but friendship.”
Before the game, Atalanta general manager Umberto Marino described Malinovskyi and Miranchuk’s friendship as “an example of what things should be. Malinovskyi missed the game against Sampdoria due to a calf injury sustained during the pre-match warmup.
Atalanta ended a five-match winless streak, reviving its hopes of finishing in the top four and competing in the Champions League for the 4th consecutive season.
With a game in hand, Atalanta has closed the gap on fourth-placed Juventus to three points.
Six minutes in, Mario Pasalic scored with a diving header. Teun Koopmeiners then scored twice. Once with an angled shot near the half-hour mark and once with a one-touch finish from the centre of the area midway through the second half. Sampdoria remained in 15th place, four points above the drop zone.
