Bosnia And Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
International Tournaments
South Korea

Villarreal hand Dia Champions League debut vs Atalanta

goal.com, 14 September 2021, 18:43
The Senegal international will make his bow in the European club competition having been handed a starter's role against the Italians

Boulaye Dia has been handed his Champions League debut as Villarreal face Atalanta on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old joined the Estadio de la Ceramica giants from Reims on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee after passing his medical test under the supervision of Asisa, which will keep him at the Spanish elite division side until 2026.

In a 4-3-3 formation, Dia will lead the Yellow Submarine attack alongside Yeremi Pino and Gerard Moreno, while counting on support from midfielders Etienne Capoue, Dani Parejo and Manu Trigueros

He is yet to get a goal for the La Liga side since joining from Stade Auguste-Delaune, nonetheless, manager Unai Emery will be banking on him to get the job done against the Serie A giants.

Elsewhere, Algeria international Aissa Mandi and former Netherlands international of Nigerian descent Arnaut Danjuma would hope to have a feel of action as substitutes.

Nigeria's Samuel Chukwueze is still out due to injury and as expected, he was not named in the squad to try Atalanta for size.

He has been out of action since picking up an injury during Villarreal's Europa League semi-final clash against Arsenal, which ended 0-0 at the Emirates Stadium on May 6.

The Super Eagle underwent successful surgery on May 31 at Hospital Quironsalud in Barcelona, nonetheless, he is far from returning to action despite resuming training with the club.

"He's going a little bit slower than we wanted to and we still want to go cautiously with him," the former Arsenal boss told the club website.

Emery also revealed his club's ambition when they take on the Gewiss Stadium giants.

"It's the first time that we are going to face Atalanta," he continued.

"They're a team like Villarreal, with a recent history in the Champions League and growth since Gasperini arrived, he has taken them to the top four in Italy and got them into the Champions League.

"We are excited to be facing them and to start our Champions League campaign at the Estadio de la Ceramica. We want to take on the challenge of facing a great Atalanta side and show what we're capable of doing."

For Gian Piero Gasperini's Black and Blues, they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Fiorentina on Saturday.

Show more

Top News

9 February 2025 talksport.com Jose Mourinho not-so subtly took aim at Galatasaray after their opponents stunningly walked off the pitch following a controversial penalty. 9 February 2025 talksport.com An unruly fan almost incurred the wrath of Dion Dublin during the half-time break of Aston Villa's 2-1 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Rangers have sunk to an unthinkable low as a botched stoppage time penalty sealed a 1-0 loss to Queen's Park at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttering league leaders Walsall will aim to rediscover their spark when they welcome Gillingham for their rescheduled matchday 16 encounter in League Two. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong could reportedly perform a U-turn on his future and sign a new contract with the Blaugrana amid links with Liverpool. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have joined Chelsea, Manchester City and Leeds United in an unwanted FA Cup club with their shock 1-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Nikola Katic put in a monster man-of-the-match performance to dump out Liverpool in the FA Cup. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Liverpool's hopes of winning a historic quadruple were shattered by a shock defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Plymouth Argyle produced the shock of the FA Cup so far after they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Home Park on Sunday, eliminating the Premier League leaders. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid defender Lucas Vazquez has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League knockout round playoff first leg against Manchester City due to "a muscle injury in the hamstring of his left leg". 9 February 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's former teammate got more than he bargained for after being hit by a bottle while celebrating a goal. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Lamine Yamal's life over the last 12 months have changed radically, so it's no surprise he's also doing that to others. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly confident that they will pip London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the signing of Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi in the summer. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe wrote his name into the football history books with a landmark strike against Atletico Madrid. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly back in the running for Feyenoord's David Hancko, whom they were tipped to sign when Arne Slot first took charge. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could allegedly be offered the chance to sign Liverpool attacker Diogo Jota in a shock deal during the summer transfer window. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Frequent foes in the French top flight, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest swap Ligue 1 for the Champions League on Tuesday evening, colliding in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Stade Francis-Le Ble. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Jamie Carragher and his son, James, have both reportedly been granted Maltese citizenship. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk At risk of suffering an unwanted first in the Champions League, Juventus host PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their playoff battle on Tuesday evening. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Conor Bradley has similar attributes to legendary Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard when he was an up and coming prospect. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Still winless in the Champions League since the departure of Ruben Amorim, Sporting Lisbon welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Estadio Jose Alvalade for Tuesday's playoff first leg. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United were reportedly willing to pay €70m (£58m) to sign Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez during the January transfer window, but the Spaniard made it clear that he was not interested in leaving Hansi Flick's side. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Lionel Messi doesn't need to play in front of his own supporters to get a standing ovation. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has acknowledged that his side missed the presence of Nicolas Jackson during Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United midfielder Casemiro could reportedly complete a move to Turkey's Super Lig before the country's winter transfer window closes on Tuesday. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has a few disciplinary concerns to worry about ahead of Tuesday's Champions League playoff first leg with Manchester City at the Etihad. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne will be bidding for a slice of history when the Citizens host Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League playoff first leg. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Five Real Madrid players are at risk of suspension heading into Tuesday's Champions League clash with Manchester City. 9 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The last two winners of the Champions League must now fight for their right to qualify for the last 16 of the 2024-25 edition, as Manchester City and Real Madrid collide in Tuesday's colossal first leg at the Etihad. 9 February 2025 talksport.com Brandon Barker once 'destroyed' Trent Alexander-Arnold but the now free agent is gunning to play football again.