Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini admits they were given a Champions League reality check by Dinamo Zagreb.

The Oribici were thrashed 4-0 for their first ever game in the competition.

“Dinamo Zagreb were better at winning back the ball, at pressing, in their intensity, their pace. They go faster in every respect. They also showed a lot of quality passing it in tight spaces," Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

“The second half was certainly more balanced, we had our chances, but these are games that teach you important lessons. We have to learn from it and put the results into practice going forward.

“We are a team that suddenly arrived at the highest level, it was a tough first impact, but in these situations you have to learn and mature, otherwise there's no point playing in the Champions League.

“I told my players much the same thing I'm telling you. Tonight, Dinamo Zagreb gave us a beating in every way. Now we have to learn to play with more quality, more pace, moving the ball quicker.

“It had never happened to us before playing in a competitive game with the opposition out-running us."