Coronavirus: Atalanta ask fans to not celebrate historic Champions League win in public

Atalanta have requested supporters do not celebrate their historic Champions League quarter-final qualification with public gatherings after Italy was put on lockdown in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Gian Piero Gasperini's side played out a thrilling 4-3 win over Valencia at Mestalla on Tuesday, with Josip Ilicic scoring all of Atalanta's goals in a wonderful individual display.

Victory secured Atalanta an 8-4 aggregate win, seeing them qualify for the last eight for the first time.

But the club has urged fans to not greet them at the airport or have public gatherings to celebrate, with a government decree on Monday putting the country on lockdown following the spread of COVID-19.

A statement posted on Twitter read: "Atalanta, in compliance with the Ministerial Decree of March 9, for the purpose of safeguarding public health, invites all people not to create gatherings in the center of Bergamo, at the Orio al Serio airport or at the Centro Bortolotti [Atalanta's training base] in Zingonia when the team returns from Valencia."

Atalanta B.C, in ottemperanza al Decreto ministeriale del 9 marzo, ai fini di salvaguardare la salute pubblica, invita tutte le persone a non creare assembramenti nel centro di Bergamo...

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) March 10, 2020

... all’aeroporto di Orio al Serio o al Centro Bortolotti di Zingonia al rientro della squadra da Valencia. #Atalanta

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) March 10, 2020