Lookman and Scamacca, Atalanta overturns Sporting and flies to the quarter-finals of the Europa League

Bergamo, 14 March 2024 - Three Italian teams are in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. TO Milan e Rome was added Atalanta, who suffered but managed to recover Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of the round of 16. Guest advantage with Goncalves, then injured, but Lookman e Chess they overturn the result and drag the Dea to the quarter-finals in the jubilation of the Gewiss Stadium. Last minutes of suffering with Paulinho ed Edwards which they waste, but the Nerazzurri resist, even with a bit of luck, and go through. Decisive victory for the Champions League ranking with a view to fifth place. Tomorrow the urn with the opponent.

Fear with Goncalves, then Lookman and Scamacca

Gasperini chooses a bit of turnover, perhaps with the intention of keeping weapons during the match in progress, and leaves Koopmeiners, Scalvini and Zappacosta out, so there is room for Trays on the wing, in front the first striker is Scamacca and behind him there are miranchuk e Lookman. Amorim chooses the offensive trident with Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao. Atalanta tries to start well and aggressively and a good through ball from Miranchuk sends it towards goal Chess, but the attacker is uncertain in his stop and fails to make an effective serve: he saves Israel. Sporting tries to play the game with courage in the first minutes, while Dea seems to want to wait for some space to open up forward. Atalanta grows as the minutes pass and in the 12th minute, on a cross from Miranchuk, there is a strange edge of Djimsiti with a parabola that hits the top of the crossbar. The home team broke through on the flanks, shortly after Holm's cross and the breakaway Kolasinac with the ball whistling very close to the left post of the goal defended by Israel. The match remains balanced, however, because Atalanta needs to win but cannot risk too much with the result in balance and Djimsiti risks causing a mess by losing a bad ball at the limit, but crack he gets lost in dribbling and can't find a shot on net. In the central phase of the half there were no scoring opportunities with the two teams well compacted in the central area and with the intention of not allowing the vertical too easily. But just when it seemed that the Goddess' forcing was taking hold, the cold shower arrives. An exchange in the central area is enough for the Portuguese to send Goncalves on goal: Musso beaten and 0-1 in the 34th minute. On this occasion the scorer also gets hurt and is forced to leave the pitch. The Goddess tries to react and pour into the other half of the pitch, but struggles to gain access to the area and Israel is not called upon to make major interventions. One comes, of great saves, right at the end of the first half, but Scamacca's right winger is ruled offside. At half-time Atalanta is eliminated. The Goddess needs a turning point and so Gasperini chooses at half-time Zappa costa and the choice is right because the goal arrives in 40 seconds: cross by Ederson, inspired by miranchuk, smooth of Esgaio and insertion of Lookman at the far post, 1-1. It's a completely different Atalanta, more intense, more attacking, more energetic with the inertia back in its possession. Newly substitute Zappacosta challenges Israel with his right foot, but it is offside, however the game has changed and Sporting appear to be struggling more defensively. In fact, the home team doubled their lead, among other things at the end of a splendid move: Ederson started, Chess opens for Miranchuk and then finishes coolly in the center of the area, 1-2 in the 59th minute. Three goals in six Europa League games for the Dea striker. Gasp, however, does not lower his guard and opts for koopmeiners e The Ketelaere for Ederson and Scamacca, while Amorim responds with catamo for Esgaio e Nuno Santos for Reis with the aim of increasing the offensive danger. The Portuguese try to regain their qualification, but Atalanta is different in terms of temperament and concedes decidedly little in Musso's area and Gasp preaches calm from the bench, especially in managing the ball. Only at the end are the worries. Sporting's center of gravity rises and Braganca he commits Musso from distance with twenty to go: a quick shout in view of the Lusitanian attacks. More changes for the two coaches: Pasalic for De Ketelaere on one side, Quaresma for St. Juste and Paulinho for Trincao on the other. Sporting looks for the last attempts, but exposes itself to the counterattack which Atalanta does not exploit due to the confusion of De Ketelaere who does not find the right choice with Lookman ready in progression. The guests record a shot of catamo from the edge, but technically the conclusion can be reviewed and ends up skyrocketing and the Nerazzurri seem capable of managing the situation. Instead, Atalanta risks with a central percussion of Edwards, but Djimsiti stands as a bulwark in front of Musso with a decisive intervention. Gasp's last move is El Bilal Touré in place of a tired Lookman, they need to close ranks for the final five minutes. The Dea also risks in the 86th minute because Paulinho he escapes behind the defense and, face to face with Musso, chooses the lob: the Atalanta goalkeeper stretches vertically and manages to block the attempt. What a fright. Another came two minutes later from a great cross from Edwards and Paulinho taking the ball away from gyokeres devouring the chance of a draw. The Goddess wobbles: in the 90th minute from Nuno Santos' left shot, then blocked by Musso Edwards he wastes another opportunity in the center of the area. Gasp is enraged by the opportunities granted, but his team holds the result and Atalanta enters the best eight of the Europa League. The Goddess is there and the Gewiss Stadium sets off fireworks.

Atalanta-Sporting Lisbon 2-1

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Musso, Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Holm, De Roon, Ederson (17' st Koopmeiners), Bakker (1' st Zappacosta); Miranchuk (30' st Pasalic), Lookman (39' st Tourè); Scamacca (17' st De Ketelaere). All. Gasperini. Available: Adopo, Carnesecchi, Hateboer, Rossi, Ruggeri, Scalvini, Toloi. Sporting Lisbon (3-4-3): Israel, St. Juste (29' st Quaresma), Diomande, Inacio; Esgaio (16' st Catamo), Hjulmand, Goncalves (36' st Braganca), Reis (16' st Nuno Santos); Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao (29' st Paulinho). Coach Amorim Available: Coates, Fresneda, Koindredi, Neto, Diogo, Rafael, Silva. Scorers: Goncalves 34', Lookman 46', Scamacca 59' Booked: Holm Sent off: