Leipzig (AP) – The RB Leipzig players didn’t really know what to do with the result against Atalanta Bergamo. They were a bit helpless after the 1: 1 (0: 1) in the quarter-finals first leg of the Europa League football against the strong Serie A club on the pitch.
An own goal by Davide Zappacosta (58th) had kept her hopes of reaching the semifinals for the first time. But even a win was still possible for the hosts in the final phase – and that after one of the weaker performances of Leipzig under coach Domenico Tedesco.
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, games at home are not exactly Atalanta’s strengths, although they eliminated Bayer Leverkusen in the round of 16.
RB focus on the second leg
“It was a balanced game and it will be an interesting second game,” said RB captain and goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. He was a bit busier than usual, he admitted. “Before the game we knew Atalana was very strong, they showed that today. We will do everything to reach the next round.” It won’t be easy to win there, “but we’ve already shown this season in the Europa League that we can win away from home.” His team-mate Konrad Laimer stated: “We have to do a few things better in the second leg.”
The guests immediately made their qualities on foreign pitches clear. 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.
“If you look at the game, we deserved the win,” said Atalanta midfielder Marten de Roon. “We could have scored more goals. But now we know we can go through to the next round.”
Bergamos Muriel’s dream flick
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.
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.
Leipzig’s defense was not managed by Muriel even after the break. Goalkeeper Gulacsi (53rd) had to save in dire need. Then came the entertaining 58th minute. First, Silva missed a penalty kick caused to Christopher Nkunku, then Atalanta’s keeper Juan Musso parried Willi Orban’s margin terrifically. But the defender stayed ahead in the situation and pressed Zappacosta on the following cross, so that he scored the 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.