The story is here, in the night full of colors and passions, of choirs and tears, liquid happiness. Atalanta bullies Marseille with the authority of a great team, hits his first European final, avenging Mondonico who had stopped in the semifinals against Malines in the Cup Winners’ Cup, 36 years ago. This is another dream, with defined contours and very encouraging prospects. “We’re going to Dublin,” the fans sing at the end.
The 3-0 comes at the last gasp, a pearl from Tourè. The superiority of the Bergamo players is overwhelming, Marseille becomes small, small and progressively succumbs. Gasperini’s band has strength, rhythm, quality. Pau Lopez, the former Roma player, spares the French an even harsher lesson. And Italian football, once again, brings out its best suit. We have to deal with broken budgets, dilapidated stadiums and endless controversies, but Europe is becoming our oasis of happiness. Last year we honored it by playing in all three finals, which we lost without deserving. This year we have reached two, after Fiorentina in the Conference, Atalanta in the Europa League, which we only won when it was called the UEFA Cup, a lifetime ago. Gasp hopes to put an end to this curse against Bayer Leverkusen, but in the meantime he is enjoying himself: the final is already a milestone for a wonderful team. The Nerazzurri coach chooses to dare with Koopmeines and Ederson on the midline and Lookman with De Ketelaere on Scamacca’s sides.
De Roon, usually a midfield prop, plays on the center right of the three-man defense and sends the young Scalvini to the bench. Marseille holds the ball and also the ball but only for about twenty minutes, then Atalanta raises the pace, makes better use of the flanks, verticalizes with conviction. The first half turns into a siege. And the people of Bergamo have more than one regret. Scamacca hits the crossbar and Pau Lopez, with three saves, two super on De Ketelaere, is a bulwark.
Once behind, Marseille loses confidence and distance, the former Italians Kondogbia and Veretout fight each other, but the team falls apart and when it appears in the attacking midfield it no longer knows what to do with the ball. At the beginning of the second half the French have a chance as big as it is by chance, but the unfortunate Ndiaye doesn’t take advantage of Musso’s wrong exit and sends the lob wide. Three minutes later Ruggeri closes the score. And Atalanta sees the finish line. Gasperini introduces Scalvini for the yellow carded Ederson, bringing De Roon back to midfield. Then Toure enters and unleashes the party. Appointment in Dublin: Bayer Leverkusen is strong, but as Guardiola says, finding Atalanta is like going to the dentist.
