Europa League: Bayer Leverkusen-Atalanta 0-1, goal from Boga. Goddess in the quarters

From our correspondent Andrea Elefante

March 17
– leverkusen (Germany)

Among the best eight in Europe for the second time in three years. This time it is the Europa League, but Atalanta is confirmed perfectly at ease, and not “downgraded”, in this competition: four out of four wins, even if tonight’s was the most painful. A great defensive performance was necessary, a decisive goal from Boga, who finally “honored” the investment made for him in the January market. He arrived for this, to split the games with his speed and the ability to aim for the goal starting from afar: thus was born the goal that at the last minute allowed Atalanta to breathe a sigh of relief after so much resistance. And tomorrow Gasperini’s team, after the draw, will know how much their chances of winning the trophy have increased. And if it can be the Europa League that gives her that place in the next Champions League, it will be difficult to earn in the league.

the choices

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Seoane is without Schick, Wirtz (who broke the crusader in the last Bundesliga match) and Frimpong: compared to the first leg he recovers Andrich and Bellarabi but leaves both on the bench, where Alario also sits, who had been canceled by Demiral. So a three-way defense with Tah, Tapsoba and Hincapié, Adli plays in front with Diaby and in the trio of midfielders (Palacios, Aranguiz and Demirbay) there is a continuous exchange of positions. Gasperini makes only one change in the team that had won 3-2 in Bergamo: Palomino instead of Djimsiti. Koopmeiners this time is the left attacking midfielder, in a 3-4-2-1 with Malinovskyi starting from the right and Muriel in front.

first half

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Atalanta reads Bayer’s offensive tourbillon quite well and only risks twice, when Diaby finds himself in the face of the goal, taking advantage of the only Nerazzurri imbalances: they first remedy Musso, who closes the goal very well, and then Djimsiti in recovery, entered after 8 ‘in place of Toloi, betrayed by a flexor (probable stretch that will make him lose the playoff with the national team). Demiral takes care of the rest, relentless on Adli and anyone who ventures into the area. Like seven days before, Bayer betrays a certain lightness behind, which Muriel takes advantage of twice: the first time the Colombian closes a restart with a slightly short pass for Malinovskyi, the second is blocked by Fosu-Mensah after having steered well for prepare the shot. Atalanta lacks the last idea to find the goal that would give them further peace of mind: in particular, Malinovskyi’s plays are lacking, this time not finding spaces and inspirations and it doesn’t hurt (like Muriel previously) even on a free kick.

recovery

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Forty-six minutes of pure suffering for Atalanta, spent practically entirely in their own half. And with a huge thrill, the biggest one, at the opening time, when Diaby – again him – appeared absolutely alone in front of Musso after having burned Palomino and devoured the best goal chance of the match: the Argentine goalkeeper was very good on the occasion. to remain standing until the end and to deflect the attempt. A total supremacy of Bayer, but always unresolved at the moment of concretizing: the only other save by Musso was on Andrich and not even complicated. Apart from a sleight of hand in the area by Muriel, broken in extremis, the only other time in which Atalanta has dangerously appeared in the opponent’s area when the recovery had already begun: the decisive goal. Escape on the left of Boga, left alone to lead the attack, and double dribbling on Tah, concluded with a surgical left to the scream of the over 1500 Bergamo fans who arrived at the BayArena.