riumph Through Tragedy: Atalanta, Bergamo & COVID-19

Eight months ago, COPA90 was in Bergamo for the first derby between Atalanta and Brescia since the 2005-2006 season.

We never imagined that Bergamo would become the epicenter of a crisis that would flip the city, the world, and the beautiful game, completely on its head.Just under a month after releasing the Derby Days film on January 26th 2020, 44,000 Bergamaschi made the short trip to Milan to watch Atalanta defeat Valencia in the most important match in the club's history.

A match that epidemiologists would describe as a “biological bomb”.Since the restart, Atalanta went on an incredible run of form, leading to the dramatic Quarter Final against Paris Saint Germain.

We explore how the people of Bergamo are living in this paradoxical moment, and how the incredible connection between the club and its fans have helped pull the city out of such a dark period.Atalanta are a provincial club whose passion is unmatched, in a country renowned for its devotion to football.

While Bergamo is a city whose connection with their club is so deep that the fans don't go to the stadium; they go to Atalanta.

Today, the people of Bergamo are a microcosm for football fans everywhere.

A community devastated by the impact of this pandemic, caught between the potential of European glory, grappling with the hope of sporting success, and trapped in a feeling of collective mourning