Reading have drawn some surprise comparisons to Serie A side Atalanta, who are reportedly thriving on a very similar wage budget, which has left many Royals fans frustrated. 

The Italian team played in the knock-out stages of the Champions League for the first time in their history last night and hammered Valencia 4-1 at the San Siro.

Atalanta finished third in Serie A last season, meaning they qualified for the European competition for the first time in their history.

Manager Gian Piero Gasperini could surely not have dreamt a better evening, as his side moved into a commanding position to qualify for the Quarter-Finals with a 4-1 victory in the first leg.

In a surprising turn of events, Atalanta's successful evening led to Reading being a popular talking point on Twitter.

According to ESPN's Matteo Bonetti, the Championship side have the same wage bill to the Italian top-flight outfit.

The Royals have had an up and down season and currently sit 15th in the second division of English football.

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The comparisons to Atalanta, while slightly tenuous, are not hugely encouraging for Reading and many of their fans took to Twitter to express their frustration.

Read the reaction of Royals fans here: