Atalanta cruise over Sturm Graz

Europa League winners Atalanta thrashed Austrian outfit Sturm Graz 5-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday with Gian Piero Gasperini's side well placed to earn a spot in the competition's top eight.

Atalanta put in a compelling performance, dominating from start to finish as they earned their first home win of their European campaign.

The Italians moved provisionally up to third spot with 14 points before the start of Tuesday's later games.

Sturm, who are 31st with three points, have no chance of securing a place in the knockout phase playoffs.

Striker Mateo Retegui gave Atalanta an early lead from close range, profiting from a defensive mishap from the visitors, and the game remained 1-0 at the break.

Mario Pasalic doubled the advantage in the 58th minute, before Charles De Ketelaere bundled the ball in to make it 3-0 five minutes later and then set up Ademola Lookman for their fourth goal in the 90th minute.

Substitute Marco Brescianini sealed the rout in stoppage time.

Atalanta, whose 15-match unbeaten run in the league was ended in a 3-2 defeat to leaders Napoli on Saturday, got off to a strong start and Serie A top scorer Retegui put them in front in the 12th minute.

De Ketelaere's cross from the right was poorly cleared by the Sturm defence, landing at the feet of Lazar Samardzic on the edge of the box.

The Atalanta midfielder found Davide Zappacosta with a precise low pass, who then squared the ball to Retegui and the Argentine netted his third Champions League goal this season.

The Austrian champions had an early chance just before Atalanta took the lead, when forward Amady Camara narrowly missed the target after latching onto a long ball.

But the visitors struggled for scoring opportunities against a dominant Atalanta side.

De Ketelaere thought he had doubled the advantage for Atalanta early in the second half, before his close-range strike was chalked off for offside in the buildup.

The hosts remained in control and Juan Cuadrado hit the post minutes later, before halftime substitute Lookman was denied twice by Sturm goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen.

Pasalic finally doubled the lead with a shot into the roof of the net, converting a stunning cross from Cuadrado, before De Ketelaere added the third.

Atalanta wanted more and they had another strike ruled out for offside through Zappacosta, before Lookman headed home the fourth.

Brescianini wrapped up the points after Lookman slalomed past the Sturm defence and fed him the ball in the penalty area.

Atalanta, who lifted the club's first European trophy last season, travel to Barcelona for their final league phase fixture on January 29 when Sturm host eliminated Red Bull Leipzig.