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Atalanta Re-Enters Champions League With Emotion After Coronavirus Ravages Bergamo

BERGAMO, Italy (AP) — Atalanta is playing “with anger in their eyes and pain in their hearts” and that emotion could help propel the team from Bergamo beyond expectations in the Champions League.

The small city of Bergamo was one of the epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. More than 6,000 people died with COVID-19 in the province.

Images of a convoy of military trucks driving coffins out of the city because the crematorium couldn’t keep up were beamed around the world.

Since even before the restart, Atalanta players have talked about bringing the smiles back to the faces of their supporters and it has been one of the top teams since soccer resumed.