Zappacosta own goal brings RB Leipzig back into play: draw against Atalanta

Muriel with an opening goal

Thanks to an own goal by Davide Zappacosta, RB Leipzig can continue to dream of the first semifinals in the Europa League. The Italian international scored the unfortunate equalizer for his team in the 58th minute of the 1-1 (0-1) in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Atalanta Bergamo on Thursday, making the German runners-up unbeaten in eleven games. In front of 36,029 spectators, Luis Muriel (17th) gave the guests the lead with a wonderful flick, who will now go into the second leg in Lombardy next Thursday with home advantage.

However, Atalanta’s strength lies in foreign places, which is already sufficiently documented this season. RB coach Domenico Tedesco also pointed this out before the game. With ten away wins, Bergamo is at the top of Serie A in this category, and in the Europa League the team also won the two knockout games away from Leipzig. Among others, the Italians defeated Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16. In view of Bergamo’s weakness at home, RB, which was in the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2018 and failed at Olympique Marseille, can still hope for the semi-finals.

From the start, the guests had more control over the game in the Leipzig Arena and also more possession of the ball. Compared to the win at Borussia Dortmund, Tedesco had remodeled his right-back, bringing in Lukas Klostermann and Benjamin Henrichs for Mohamed Simakan and Nordi Mukiele. Bergamo apparently saw a weakness there – and found it too. After an unexciting early phase, Henrichs left Muriel alone in the corner of the penalty area, then a hook in the penalty area was enough for the Colombian international against Klostermann to have enough space for his curl into the corner. Two minutes into the lead, Muriel came through again down the right, his shot just wide of the far post.

Only then did Leipzig find something and had the first big chance in a changeover situation. After winning the ball in the build-up of the Lombards, the ball landed at André Silva (24th), but the Portuguese shot hit the post. After that, Bergamo withdrew further and further. Leipzig found no remedy against the guests’ improvised chain of three. There, captain Rafael Toloi and Berat Djimsiti were missing two regulars in central defense injured. Leipzig, on the other hand, were lucky just before the break when Mario Pasalic penetrated the penalty area via the right-hand side of defence. In the end, however, the angle became too acute for the Croatian and his shot went just wide of the post.

Muriel couldn’t get Leipzig under control, goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi (53rd) saved in dire need. Then came the enormously entertaining 58th minute. First, Silva missed a penalty kick caused to Christopher Nkunku, then Juan Musso parried Willi Orban’s margin terrifically. But the defender stayed ahead in the situation and pressed Zappacosta on the following cross in such a way that the Italian scored an own goal. After that, Bergamo ran up with anger in his stomach. Substitute Giorgio Scalvini (64th) threw the ball over the bar from six meters. Teun Koopmeiners hit the post a minute later. Defense chief Merih Demiral (73rd) narrowly missed taking the lead again after a set piece. But Leipzig still had the chance to win: Substitute Dominik Szoboszai (82nd) ​​hit the post with his head.

Hot final phase, but it stays the same#UEL #RBLATA pic.twitter.com/tRo2nzGeni

— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) April 7, 2022

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