Atalanta in history is in the Europa League final: it will challenge Bayer Leverkusen. Marseille knocked out 3-0

Bergamo, 9 May 2024 - An Atalanta drumming, splendid, historic. The team of Gasperini qualified for the first European final in its history by comprehensively dominating the second leg semi-final against Marseille. The one-and-one in the first leg was canceled out by Lookman and Ruggeri, with two splendid goals, then Tourè's hat-trick in the 94th minute for the victory at the Gewiss Stadium over the Transalpines by three to zero which gives all of Bergamo the final in Dublin on May 22nd. Too much of a Goddess for Olympique, impressed with the pace, intensity, pressing and lines of play, above all by the better quality of the Nerazzurri led by a koopmeiners phenomenal and from a Hien gladiatorial in the defensive phase. The Nigerian Lookman he opened fire in the 30th minute of the first half and then Ruggeri he closed the score in the 51st minute with a prodigious right-footed shot that made the Atalanta fans wrinkle their eyes. History has therefore been rewritten and a new page can be written in thirteen days. Bergamo on the shields.

The match

Gasperini leaves out Scalvini and chooses De Roon right arm with Hien and Djimsiti (there is no Kolasinac), while up front he chooses heavy artillery with De Ketelaere, Scamacca and Lookman. Marseille with the 4-3-3 and the trident composed of Ndiaye, Aubameyang and Harit.

We start immediately at a high pace, with all-out duels and pressing on both sides. The trademark of the two teams is clear, but Atalanta with the trident in front he tries to put pressure on the French rearguard, probably the weak point of Gasset's team. Olympique instead tries to exploit the vertical position behind the defense, but the Goddess works well on preventative measures and remains in possession of the pace of the match. The first big opportunity is in the 6th minute thanks to a strike by koopmeiners which favors De Ketelaere, the Belgian skips the goalkeeper but Pau Lopez recovers and deflects the ball onto the post. The home team's push weakened in the central part of the first half which saw the French take possession of the ball with the intention of lowering the pace and then immediately attacking the vertical with the leg of Ndiaye and Aubameyang. But Atalanta is there and immediately finds itself with a steal from the front and a diagonal shot to the side of Chess, shortly afterwards Zappacosta tries from the edge, but the conclusion is central yet powerful. The Goddess restarted the engines and koopmeiners he tries with a left foot from twenty meters: deflection and the ball whizzes wide. The real double opportunity comes from the next corner where a furious melee arises with Scamacca trying to resolve it but hitting the crossbar, then a header from Ketelaere which forces Lopez to save. The Nerazzurri's forcing found the deserved advantage in the 30th minute, again thanks to the high pace imposed by Gasperini who encouraged Musso to make a quick clearance for De Roon with Marseille undefended, so two passes towards the Lookman for the one-on-one and the right-footed shot that goes into the corner: 1-0 and jubilation for Gewiss. The Nigerian had the opportunity for the second three minutes later, when he was unmarked by De Ketelaere, but incredibly stumbled when entering the area one-on-one with Lopez. Marseille slips and it's up to Chess freeing the Belgian who wasted the second goal in front of Lopez. At half-time it's 1-0 Atalanta, but it could have been more.

In the second half Atalanta started again where they left off. There is a high pace, good pressing phase, good patterns of play between the lines and a koopmeiners to dominate in midfield. But there was Atalanta's inattention in the 50th minute with Musso finding himself halfway on the insertion of Ndiaye, fortunately the lob goes wide with the door wide open. Sigh of relief. The fear passes quickly, because a minute later a combination between Ruggeri and Lookman leads the Italian winger to unload a right-footed shot, then with his weak foot, which goes into the top corner. A film library goal and a Gewiss in raptures. Despite the double advantage it is Gasperini the first to change with Miranchuk and Scalvini on the pitch in place of Ederson and Scamacca, tonight more dull than on other occasions. Gasset doesn't take long to change the tactical structure and creates a more front-wheel drive Marseille with Ounahi and Sarr on the pitch, two who had created problems for the Dea in the first leg. Atalanta are unfazed and continue to play their game supported by an extraordinary crowd and the final is close with a double advantage. All you need to do is not get distracted to complete the historic mission, but Olympique has a jolt with a cross shot from Veretout from a free kick that hits the crossbar. However, the Goddess continues to asphyxiate the French and Koopmeiners continues to draw football, supported by an intense, attentive, voracious team in its pace. In fact, the French only have half chances in the squares, because in maneuvers Atalanta dominates the match in pace and intensity, above all it inhibits the arrival towards the goal defended by Musso covering the vertical very well. Latest changes for Gasp with Toure and Hateboer on the pitch, while Gasset chooses Moumbagna and Luis Henrique, but for the French the game doesn't change and Atalanta sails towards the 90th minute without worries. Koopmeiners comes close to scoring the third in the 80th minute with his left foot, but it's not a problem because Tourè takes care of it in full injury time to score the hat trick: on May 22nd there will be Atalanta's first European final in Dublin.

The little table

Atalanta-Olympique Marseille 3-0

Atalanta (3-4-3): Musso, De Roon, Hien, Djimsiti; Zappacosta (30' st Hateboer), Koopmeiners, Ederson (10' st Scalvini), Ruggeri; De Ketelaere (16' st Pasalic), Scamacca (10' st Miranchuk), Lookman (30' st Tourè. All Gasperini. Available: Adopo, Bakker, Bonfanti, Carnesecchi, Comi, Palestra, Rossi.

Olympique Marseille (4-3-3): Lopez, Mbemba (14' st Ounahi, Gigot, Balerdi, Merlin (25' st Luis Henrique); Clauss (25' st Moumbagna), Veretout, Kondogbia; Ndiaye (14' st Sarr), Aubameyang, Harit (38' st Correa ) Coach Gasset available: Blanco, Daou, Lafont, Meite, Murillo, Ngapandouetnbu, Soglo.

Scorers: Lookman 30', Ruggeri 51', Toure 94'

Booked: Ederson, De Roon