Atalanta took its time to win 2-1 against Salernitana, bottom of the Italian Championship which will return to the 2nd division next season, Monday at the end of the 35th day. Three days before the reception of Marseille in the semi-final return of the Europa League, Atalanta, led from the 18th minute, was jostled for 90 minutes. Gianluca Scamacca, author of the opener in the C3 semi-final first leg in Marseille (1-1), equalized in the 57th minute with his seventh goal, in all competitions, for a month. Teun Koopmeiners gave his team the lead six minutes later.
This success allows the “Dea” to move back in front of AS Rome (both 60 pts, but one game less for Atalanta) to 5th place in the Serie A standings, the last qualifier for the Champions League .
Gian Piero Gasperini had chosen to spare his usual starters and make six changes compared to the team fielded last week in Marseille. One of these changes was made necessary by the thigh injury of Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac who will be unavailable against Marseille. Captain Rafael Toloi, absent in the first leg due to a muscular problem, could however be available again, Gasperini indicated after the match. “We have confidence in ourselves, but we will have to deliver a very good match and be careful on Thursday. Reaching this final would be something fantastic, historic for our club and for an entire city in full euphoria before hosting Marseille,” explained the Italian technician.
