TOPS
What a match from the Atalanta striker. Apart from his goal (30th), the first for the Bergamasques, the Nigerian brought constant danger to Pau Lopez’s cage throughout the match. Technically, N.11 was very fair and was a terrible poison for the Olympians. The OM defense had great difficulty containing him, he who increased his efforts, particularly in the defensive withdrawal. A high class service.
The other great architect of the Bergamo demonstration. The Atalanta striker showed an impressive volume of play against the Marseillais. The Belgian gave the impression of being everywhere offensively. His combinations with Ademola Lookman made the Marseille defense dizzy, as the Bergamasques were so technically superior. De Ketelaere could also have found the net on his two attempts on target but Pau Lopez was there. The Red Devil finished the match with more than 86% of successful passes… High level.
The Bergamo pistons did a lot of harm to OM this evening. The two players never stopped offering, making themselves available and increasing the number of offensive runs. Ruggeri notably signs the second for his team, with a heavy and magnificent strike which came to clean the top corner of Pau Lopez. Powerful and incisive pistons which contrast sharply with their Marseille counterparts, Jonathan Clauss and Quentin Marlin, who experienced a nightmare and failed everything in Bergamo. DEA midfielder Teun Koopmeiners was also dazzling this Thursday, finding his attackers perfectly and providing enormous activity in the midfield. Thanks to its great performances, Atalanta will play the first European final in its history on May 22 in Dublin against Bayer Leverkusen.
The only Marseillais who will have “held down the house” this evening. The Olympian goalkeeper finished the match with five saves on the clock. Suffice to say that without him, OM would not have left Bergamo with qualification but with a suitcase…
FLOPS
Unlike the two Bergamo pistons who performed very well this evening, the two Marseillais were at bay until their outings. Merlin did not send a single good cross in this match and was systematically caught behind his back by the attackers of Atalanta and Zappacosta who took advantage of immense boulevards. Same problem for Clauss who was transparent offensively and pierced throughout. No offensive contribution and monstrous spaces left to Atalanta. Worrying a few months before the Euro…
We expected Olympique de Marseille to be determined and hungry to win in Bergamo after the draw (1-1) conceded last week at the Vélodrome, but that was not the case. The step was simply too high for the Phocaeans who came across those stronger than them. Jean-Louis Gasset’s men never knew how to get the game going and can count themselves happy to leave Italy with “only” three goals conceded. Atalanta was a class above technically in this return match and the Olympians only suffered. A lesson.