De Ketelaere and Scamacca lead Atalanta into the Champions League: Lecce defeated 2-0

Lecce, 18 May 2024 – Il Lecce already mathematically safe receives Atalanta who needs the three points to qualify Champions League. In fact, in the event of victory, Gasperini's team would be certain of fifth place and would also move within just one point of Juventus and Bologna. The game is played in a festively decorated Via del Mare for the Giallorossi's last home match, where the Salento coach Luca Gotti he wants to get another satisfaction: beating the Nerazzurri, something he has never achieved yet. On the lineup side, classic 4-4-2 for Luca Gotti who chooses Gonzalez instead of Oudin, to have an extra setter, also to avoid Atalanta's pressing. On the other side, Gasperini (now replaced by Tullio Gritti in bench) in addition to the absent De Roon, Kolasinac, Holm and Koopmeiners, he leaves in bench also Ederson, Carnesecchi e Ruggeri. The 3-4-1-2 therefore sees Musso between the posts, the young Bonfanti with Toloi and Hien behind, Scalvini in midfield with Pasalic and El Bilal Touré teaming up with Scamacca in front. All under the orders of Antonio Rapuano.

First half

Aleksej tries immediately miranchuk in the 4th minute he lights up, he does everything alone up to the edge of the area and shoots with Falcone who blocks. More Atalanta, This time Pasalic Falcone calls for a big intervention: Dorgu gets it all wrong and gives the ball to Scamacca who immediately goes to El Bilal, insertion of Pasalic, serve and touch underneath to miss the goalkeeper but the Lecce goalkeeper is there. Lecce also wakes up and wants to finish on a high note in front of its fans: Gallo carries the ball on his own wing, sees the cut of Little ones and serves it taking advantage of an imperfect coverage by Bonfanti, Piccoli kicks hard but is unable to beat Musso. He tries again immediately after Little ones who this time is served by Krstovic, but Musso again says no. The game was played at a high pace, a very entertaining game in the first quarter of an hour. He also shows up when shooting Chess in the 18th minute after a good ball from Miranchuk, but Falcone responds despite a slight uncertainty. Here comes the first yellow of the match in the 25th minute: booked Hateboer for a foul on Dorgu. After a conflict with Zappaccosta he accuses a left thigh problem Gendrey which he is forced to cultural, , in his place the former Viola Venuti. Lorenzo Venuti immediately shows up with a nice overlap, cross looking for Dorgu at the far post who tries to volley but misses the target. El Bilal Touré also received a yellow card in the 37th minute for a foul on Ramadani. Scamacca opens wide on the left for Zappacosta who controls and centralizes, the 77 kicks but finds opposition from a defender, the ball stays there and again Zappacosta kicks hard but not precisely. A goal against Lecce was disallowed in the 45th minute! Launch with the revolution counter by Ramadani for the insertion of Dorgu who all alone beats Musso with a nice touch on the exit, but Gotti's fielder was offside. The first half ends 0-0 between Lecce and Atalanta.

Second half

Gritti changes two: De Ketelaere and Ederson inside, El Bilal and Zappacosta outside. What did Krstovic eat! Ramadani verticalizes on the left for Piccoli who crosses, wrong moving penalty for the Montenegrin. Charles De Ketelaere comes in and scores in the 47th minute! Stop and ball forward by Scamacca who serves it perfectly to the Belgian winger, pressure from Gallo which however proves ineffective because the 17 holds up and then makes the cut to Falcone for the lead. Atalanta double their lead immediately! Corner kick at the near post looking for the head of Scamacca who also anticipates Falcone coming out and puts it in for the second goal. He completely changes the game in six minutes at Via del Mare. Three Gotti men immediately change: Oudin, Blin and Pierotti come on instead of Gonzalez, Berisha and Dorgu, new energy is needed to try to turn this match around. Another corner kick where Atalanta becomes dangerous with Hien who heads it to the far post, but sends it high. Now Lecce seems a bit dolled up due to the two goals conceded, the hosts are trying to regroup. Gianluca Scamacca comes out in the 62nd minute, goal and assist for the 90 of the Bergamo players, in his place a defender like Berat Djimsiti, so now De Ketelaere will be the only offensive reference. Also on the field for Adopo in place of Pasalic in the 68th minute. The impression is that Lecce needs an episode to reopen this match, Atalanta covers themselves well and calmly manages every ball using the time as a further ally. Afterwards he takes the ball away from Ramadani, Miranchuk receives and takes it to the edge of the area, Scalvini is released from midfield who goes up, receives and tries from afar with the inside but doesn't find the target. Last substitution Dea with Bakker taking the place of the young Bonfanti who ended 75 minutes in crescendo, after a difficult start certainly better in the second half. The second half of the match was now decidedly low, with Atalanta in control and turning the ball over in midfield with some ball-and-chain incursions from Bakker and Ederson which however led to nothing. Toloi makes a complete mistake and loses the ball, Rafia touches it for Piccoli who immediately shoots from outside the area but misses the target. It ends 0-2 between Lecce and Atalanta, it is decided by Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca who officially report the orobics in the Champions League.

scoreboard

Lecce (4-4-2): Falcone, Gendrey (Venuti, 30'), Baschirotto, Pongracic, Gallo, Gonzalez (Oudin, 54'), Berisha (Blin, 54'), Ramadani (Rafioa, 83'), Dorgu (Pierotti, 54'), Krstovic, Little ones.

Atalanta (3-4-1-2): Musso, Toloi, Hien, Bonfanti (Bakker, 75'), Hateboer, Scalvini, Pasalic (Adopo, 68'), Zappacosta (Ederson, 46'), Miranchuk, Scamacca (Djimsiti, 62'), El Bilal (De Ketelaere, 46').

networks: Charles De Ketelaere (ATA) 47', Gianluca Scamacca (ATA) 53'