Europa League, Atalanta is a spectacle at Anfield: 0-3 against Liverpool

Liverpool, 11 April 2024 – If it's a dream, don't wake Bergamo. Atalanta accomplishes a real feat and wins, or rather dominates, the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals against Liverpool. Driven by an extraordinary Scamacca, the Goddess conquers Anfield with a resounding and rounded 0-3, with a brace of Chess, right in the first half and left in the second, plus a trio of Pasalic on the counterattack at the end. A great game often by the Nerazzurri who withstood the English pace, played in a European style, with aggression and courage, but also with quality and plots without closing themselves in like a hedgehog behind. The personality of Gasp's team made the difference in withstanding the initial impact and putting a pebble in the gears of Klopp, who did not find useful solutions during the match in progress to overturn it. Jubilation for the Atalanta players at Anfield and a semi-final, with a three-goal advantage, very close. The return leg will take place in seven days at the Gewiss Stadium.

Scammacca on the shields

Gasperini loses Kolasinac before the match, so he has to adapt De Roon's left arm. In front is Koopmeiners supporting the De Ketelaere-Scamacca pair. Klopp with excellent exclusions, in fact Salah, Robertson and Szoboszlai don't play, so Nunez plays up front with Elliott and Gakpo in support.

Atalanta he immediately had a huge opportunity to take the lead. The action probably arose from a foul by De Roon that the referee didn't whistle for, then a rebound favored it Pasalic in the center of the area but Kelleher sacrifices his face to save the result. Liverpool are not dismayed and start again on the next play, putting in a shot nunez Musso is there in the position to kick on the left. The pace is infernal, as Liverpool usually does, and Mac Allister fires a left-footed shot high from a good position. It's the Reds who play the game, however Atalanta holds the pitch well and shows that they don't suffer too much from the Anfield environment with a good approach to the match. Indeed, the Goddess has another half chance when Zappa costa he escapes to the right and serves De Ketelaere, then heel for the dish koopmeiners walled up. Opportunities here and there, shortly after the hosts clear Nunez in front Musso but the scavetto is terrible and the result is equally bad: the ball sadly goes out. The Goddess accepts the rhythms of others and keeps them, with courage, offensive pressure even at the cost of granting the field behind and one-on-one for the central defenders, but on the other hand in these stages you cannot close yourself off and hope. Atalanta does its thing with energy and conviction. There is a thrill, however, in the 26th minute when a curling shot Elliott it hits first the crossbar and then the post with Musso beaten. Sigh of relief. At the end of the half the intensity drops slightly and Liverpool seems to gain the upper hand, but Atalanta has a big jolt in the 38th minute. Gasperini's team comes out of the pressing splendidly, so Koopmeiners unloads vertically for Zappacosta, capable of serving Chess who pierces an uncertain Kelleher with his right: 0-1. Atalanta are livelier than ever and in the 45th minute koopmeiners he has the opportunity for the second, unmarked by Pasalic, but the Dutchman wastes time and the right-footed shot is blocked by Kelleher. Sin.

Pasalic closes

Klopp opens the second half with heavy artillery and chooses Robertson Szoboszlai and Salah with the intent of overturning the result, excluding Elliott, Jones and Tsiminkas. Liverpool try to raise the engine revs, but Atalanta never stops being attentive, energetic and courageous and despite the substitutions the match remains balanced. Liverpool have the opportunity thanks to an error by Hien, with Salah who attempts a close left, finding the hands of Musso and a good reflection. The reds go up with shots and shortly after nunez A good move by Gakpo turns left: the ball goes high over the crossbar. It is the last action of the number nine, always very wasteful, because Klopp chooses Diaz around the hour mark, looking for that equalizer that doesn't arrive, instead it's Atalanta who scores the second goal with a precious cross from De Ketelaere who catches Chess: double and 0-2. Jubilation in the guest sector. Liverpool feel the pinch and shortly after the good ball is on the left koopmeiners who shoots badly wide. The home team doesn't seem to have adequate offensive solutions and opts for a shot from outside Gomez which he shoots well to the side. Atalanta express themselves so well that Gasperini doesn't need substitutions, because his players continue to attack and steal balls while Klopp tries the Diogo card Jot for the final quarter of an hour. Liverpool scored in the 79th minute Salah, but the Egyptian was offside at the moment of Robertson's cross. The Goddess is such in name and in fact and in the 83rd minute on the umpteenth restart the third arrives, with Ederson challenging Kelleher then Pasalic signs the easiest of taps: 0-3 dream. At Anfield you can only hear the Atalanta fans. The Reds lose references and ideas, above all they no longer believe in them and abdicate after three minutes of added time. Atalanta is spectacular and the semi-final is close, thanks to a sumptuous team performance which confirms all the Nerazzurri's chances of going all the way. In seven days the return to Bergamo with three goals to defend, but this Atalanta doesn't have much desire to defend itself.

scoreboard

LIVERPOOL-ATALANTA 0-3

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher, Gomez, Konate, van Dijk, Tsiminkas (1' st Robertson; Jones (1' st Szboszlai, Endo (31' st Diogo Jota), Mac Allister; Elliott (1' st Salah), Nunez (15' st Diaz) , Gakpo.

Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, De Roon; Zappacosta, Ederson, Pasalic, Ruggeri; Koopmeiners; De Ketelaere (44' st Miranchuk), Scamacca. All. Gasperini.

Scorers: Scamacca 38', Scamacca 60', Pasalic 83'