18:23
While RBL is still dancing at three weddings at the same time and is also playing for the pot in the DFB Cup, the Europa League is something of the last straw for Atalanta to save a rather moderate season. In the league, the Bergamasci will miss out on getting into the Champions League, so the Italians are now putting everything on the Europa League card. Getting into the final is supposedly easier if you survive this semi-final than on the other side of the tournament tree. Finally, in the semi-finals, the winner of the underdog duel between Braga and Rangers awaits. In front of their own audience, the blue-blacks want to crack Leipzig to keep the chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
18:07
“Il tedesco” is Italian and means “the German”. The German-Italian coach Domenico Tedesco, born in Rossano in Italy, meets the Bergamasci with his Leipzigers in Atalanta and fights for a place in the Europa League semi-finals. At the press conference before the game, this special constellation was of course also discussed and Yussuf Poulsen confirmed to the journalists present that his coach’s Italian temperament definitely came through in the speeches before the games. However, the 36-year-old soccer teacher doesn’t necessarily see it as an advantage during games against Italian teams to have a perfect command of their language. Nevertheless, it is a special encounter for him.
17:54
In the early evening at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, there will be a showdown between Atalanta and Leipzig, who gave little in the first leg a week ago. Compared to that first clinch, the somewhat weakened Bergamasci are doing more in terms of personnel than RBL. Bergamo coach Gasperini trades all three attacking forces, bringing on Zapata, Boga and Malinovskiy for Muriel, Pessina and Pašalić. Muriel, who put in a tremendous performance in the first leg and scored the 1-0 for his team, is only coming off the bench. Tedesco only changes once at Leipzig: Simakan gave a letter of recommendation in the 3-0 win against Hoffenheim last weekend and is therefore allowed to play in the defensive back three for Klostermann.
17:46
Welcome to the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals between Atalanta Bergamo and RB Leipzig! The first leg in Saxony ended 1-1, so everything is still open. Kick-off is at 6:45 p.m.!