Report from the match Atalanta Bergamo – Olympique Marseille: statistics, report

The Atalanta footballers confirmed their excellent form in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final, in which they defeated Marseille 3:0 on their own field, and will thus play for the trophy in Dublin. The excellent catcher Pau López was the first to beat Ademola Lookman, who followed up his strike in the 30th minute with an assist on a shot by Matteo Ruggeri, a young student from Lombardy. Big celebrations erupted in Bergamo, as the Nerazzurri will have the opportunity to fight for their first European laurels in history.

A walking pace was enough for Atalanta in Monday’s playoff to scalp last-place Salernitana, but a completely different intensity of play was expected in the duel with Marseille. This promise was also indicated by the result of the opening match, when the teams on the Cote d’Azur broke up after a 1:1 draw. The most important question for the return leg was whether the French team’s defenders, who were rested at the weekend, could defend Gianluca Scamaccio, the author of seven goals in his last seven starts.

Marseille’s defenders were the first to watch out. In the penalty area, they did not guard Charles De Ketelaer, who went around the goalkeeper, but only aimed at the post from an angle. The dominance of the home footballers grew with the passing minutes, and Scamacca was able to take advantage of it in the 24th minute. However, the Italian phantom of recent weeks only stamped the crossbar from close range, and López managed De Ketelaera’s stop. The game dominance of the Italian team culminated in the 30th minute after Lookman’s individual action. The Nigerian winger zigzagged with the ball in front of the goal line and opened the scoring of the match with a pointed shot to the post. The Bergamo players continued to press until the end of the half. The hopes of the Olympians were kept alive only by López, who knocked out a dangerous attempt by the very active De Ketelaer.

Already seven minutes after the start of the second act, the Nerazzurri Ruggeri significantly increased their promotion shares. He collided with Lookman and sent a beautiful blow to the far gallows. The men in white almost pulled one back after an hour when Jordan Veretout’s long-range free-kick surprised Juan Musso and rattled the crossbar. But aside from that try, Les Olympiens failed to produce anything to turn the tide of the game, extending their unflattering streak against Italian teams to nine games without a win. El Bilal Touré put the final stamp on the progress of the blue and blacks with a shot at the far post.

Marseille’s poor away form was also reflected on the Apennine Peninsula, and Atalanta advanced to the final. Her opponent will be either Leverkusen or AS Roma on May 22 in Dublin, Ireland.