The first leg of the Europa League semi-final in Marseille ends 1-1. ‘Dea’ ahead with Scamacca, concedes the equalizer with an extraordinary feat from Mbemba. Kolasinac’s injury changes the inertia of the match, with the greatest risks in the second half.
Personality, compactness, courage, play and tactical identity. L’Atalanta he snatched a good draw from Marseille (1-1) in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final played in France and showed all those qualities that brought her to the attention of continental football. The result leaves everything in the balance, qualification will be decided in Bergamo: it will be enough to win with a one-goal difference, whatever the number of goals, to go through and book the trip to Dublin: there, on May 22nd, they will face one of Roma or Bayer Leverkusen (with the Germans favored by the 0-1 victory at the Olimpico) in the match that is worth the title and access to the next edition of the new Champions League.
Battle. It’s been there since the beginning. After all, it is well known that the Olympique pitch is one of the hottest. The ‘goddess’, despite some moments of suffering (especially in the second part of the match), held the field well and withstood the blow of the home team, did not allow herself to be crushed, and indeed risked something (for certain bold outings by goalkeeper Musso) but was at the same time always dangerous.
Burning start. A slap on the face, just to set the record straight. Gasperini’s team abandoned him to Marseille after less than 10 minutes when, thanks to a calibrated assist from Koopmeiners, Scamacca controlled the ball and placed a great diagonal shot, silencing the Velodrome. On the turnaround in front Kolasinac sacrifices himself for an amazing save (Musso comes out empty from a cross) and gets hurt anticipating Sarr all alone in front of the goal. Pasalic enters, De Roon retreats to the defense and there is a bit of a backlash.
Marseille-Atalanta, where to watch it on TV and streaming on TV8, Sky or DAZN: the official lineups of the Europa League match
The French first found the equalizer thanks to a feat by Mbemba then sensationally missed the 2-1 goal on a counterattack launched in an open field. The pace remains high and when the Bergamo players bravely move forward they risk a lot. Aubameyang gives Zappacosta a headache but Musso (luck and joy) makes up for it on the way out.
Freediving shooting. Tremendous, there is no other way to define the second half in the presence of an opponent who gave everything, pressed with extreme intensity to find the doubling goal. Lookman comes close to making it 1-2 but Atalanta trembles when Sarr puts it in: an offside at the start of the action saves the ‘goddess’. Danger averted but the heart still stops due to the top corner hit by Ounahi. Flame of pride at the end: in the 90th minute Miranchuk comes close to hitting the post. The rest is a battle, without breathing space even in recovery. Qualification is decided in Bergamo.
