Muted goal celebration by Russian star

Russia international Aleksei Miranchuk has barely acknowledged scoring a superb solo goal in Atalanta's 4-0 Serie A win over Sampdoria.

Miranchuk's goal came hours after Russia's national team was suspended from qualifying matches for the World Cup, as the country was pushed toward pariah status in sports for its invasion of Ukraine.

In other circumstances, Miranchuk's goal would have been worthy of quite a celebration, because it was extraordinary.

He received the ball on the right flank about 35 years from goal and dribbled down the channel before cutting inside -- with multiple defenders tracking his run -- before creating the space he need to fire a left-foot effort into the net from the edge of the area.

Immediately after the goal, Miranchuk held his hands up to signify he wouldn't celebrate as he was quickly mobbed by delighted teammates.

Miranchuk is friendly with Ukrainian teammate Ruslan Malinovskyi, who celebrated scoring in the Europa League on Thursday against Olympiacos by lifting his jersey to show a message reading "No war in Ukraine" on his undershirt.

"These days have been tough," Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon said.

"Ruslan is having a rough time because his family and his city are in trouble. ... But they (Malinovskyi and Miranchuk) always talk together.

"There is nothing but friendship between them."

Before kick-off, Atalanta general manager Umberto Marino called the friendship between Malinovskyi and Miranchuk "an example of what things should be."

"It is a sincere friendship between two boys who represent two very similar peoples," Marino said.

Malinovskyi missed the game against Sampdoria after injuring his calf in the pre-match warm-up.

Ending a five-match winless streak, Atalanta revived