Atalanta sports chief Carlo Osti is delighted with the form so far under coach Gigi del Neri.

Atalanta have emerged as a genuine bet for Champions League qualification and Osti reflected: "It's our second year back in Serie A and we have a great tradition with our youth system.

"This season we started with difficulties, we have changed the coach and several players who preferred other destinations. This was not easy work, we had to reconstruct the squad and rejuvenate the team.

"Del Neri is doing an excellent job."