Europa League, Atalanta-Leverkusen 3-2: brace from Muriel and goal from Malinovskyi

The first round goes to Atalanta, but it will be painful to defend the point of advantage in Germany next Thursday, in the second leg of the second round of the Europa League. Because the 3-2 with which Gasperini’s gang beat Leverkusen at Gewiss returned Muriel’s goals to the Nerazzurri (brace), and could have been wider, but it also confirmed some dangerous amnesia.

Choices

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Gasperini raises Malinovskyi and Muriel from 1 ‘, in defense he prefers Djimsiti to Palomino and in the median ranks Koopmeiners, De Roon and Freuler at the same time, with the second slightly behind the two companions in a 3-5-2 that often turns into 3 -1-4-2. On the lanes run Hateboer and Zappacosta. The Germans use their classic 4-2-3-1. In attack there is Alario, given the absence of Schick: in practice, both teams are without their reference strikers, the Czech and Zapata. In addition, the Leverkusen has the little genius Demiraby disqualified.

Aranguiz on fire

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Atalanta does not have a bad start, very aggressive and eager. The Bayer, on the other hand, seems more staid. To unblock him, Aranguiz’s wonderful free-kick at 9 ‘is printed on the post. For the Germans it has the effect of the alarm clock, while the Goddess shivers. So, two minutes later, at the invitation of Wirtz, Aranguiz himself adjusts his aim from sixteen meters and places the ball where Musso cannot reach. Atalanta staggered dramatically for 10 ‘, with Leverkusen beating the rhythms and music of the match.

Collected

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But when you least expect it, here is the Nerazzurri start. Indeed, the double jolt, because in 3 ‘the Goddess completely reverses the fate of the match. At 23 ‘Freuler forcefully snatches a ball from Diaby’s feet, setting Malinovskyi in motion: a delightful exchange with Muriel and a left-footed shot by the Ukrainian for the equalizer. And then in the 25th minute it is Toloi who steals the ball in midfield, triggering Malinovskyi good at sending Muriel into the goal, surgical with the left in beating Hradecky. The one-two knocks the Germans out of the game suddenly. Atalanta, for their part, begins to hammer and before the interval Hradecky says no to Muriel (39 ‘), Koopmeiners (42’) and Zappacosta (44 ‘).

Domain, but …

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The halftime bell is thought to give Seoane a chance to heal his injuries, but as the second round begins, Leverkusen looks even worse than before. There is literally only one team on the pitch, Atalanta. And Muriel’s 3-1, again served by Malinovskyi in the open space of the two power plants (Tah and Tapsoba very little in the evening …), is the logical consequence. The Nerazzurri would also be the same, were it not for Hradecky’s saves: the one in the 57th minute on the close touch of Muriel was crazy, however saving the two on Toloi and Hateboer immediately after. Seoane understands that going on like this and you risk a goal, so he takes away Alario, a striker, to insert Kossonou, a defender. It seems a contradiction, but in the 65th minute the Leverkusen shortens the distance from nothing: Djimsiti is naive in the contrast with Diaby, who then guesses the left foot from the edge to the far corner, where Musso cannot reach. A mockery for the turn that the match had taken, but in the crazy Gewiss evening there is everything. In the end, Atalanta tries again, even with the newcomers Boga and Miranchuk, but the score doesn’t change anymore. It is a nice victory, but with a small note of bitterness, because the bill for the German stay in Bergamo could have been decidedly more salty. And in a week in Leverkusen Bayer can try to make the Goddess pay for it.