De Ketelaere (photo Lapresse)
Atalanta-Roma 2-1, Juventus e Bologna in Champions League
It is a significant result not only for theAtalanta the 2 to 1 with which Gasperini’s boys beat Roma fresh from the battle on the Bayer Leverkusen pitch: in fact, if the Nerazzurri position themselves like this on the fifth place with 63 points (+3 on the Giallorossi and one game less: against Fiorentina with recovery on Sunday 2 June: 3 points in 3 games are enough for the Orobic team), with their success they automatically send Juventus and Bologna – tied on 67 points – to the Champions League.
For Dea, a success that brings them closer to the top European club competition and which arrives on the eve of the Italian Cup final scheduled for Wednesday against Juventus. Then, on Wednesday 22 May, the other final will take place: Atalanta-Bayer Leverkusen which qualifies for the Europa League. Among the other verdicts of the day: Milan mathematically second (thanks to Juve’s draw with Salernitana). Open fight for sixth place: the Roma must defend it from Lazio, at -1 and certain of playing at least the next Conference League.
Bologna in the Champions League: “Look, the sky is full of stars”. The club’s social post
De Ketelaere-Atalanta show, Roma ko: Dea shot, Champions League closer
Atalanta beat Roma 2-1 thanks to De Ketelaere’s brace, scored in the first half, while De Rossi’s team – which remains stuck on 60 points – Pellegrini’s penalty is not enough. Furthermore, the Goddess has a game to recover so the fifth place useful for the Champions League really appears to be one step away.
In the wake of the enthusiasm for the final won in the Europa League, Atalanta started with their foot on the accelerator and immediately put Roma in a corner, finding the first goal in the 18th minute when Scamacca, in the guise of prompter, triggers De Ketelaere who moves the ball to the right in the area and passes Svilar. It therefore took less than two minutes for the Belgian to concede an encore. Koopmeiners talks to Scamacca and offers a ball that only has to be pushed into the net by De Ketelaere. And the double lead doesn’t stop Gasperini’s boys who create at least 4 more clear scoring opportunities before the break with two posts hit again by De Ketelaere in the 37th minute and by Koopmeiners on a free kick in the 43rd minute.
Upon returning from the break, Atalanta were still on the attack but then in one of the few offensive actions by the Giallorossi, a slip by De Roon on Abraham was judged to be a foul. It’s a penalty, which Pellegrini converts, bringing the score to 2-1 in the 66th minute. But in the final minutes Roma, despite making themselves more dangerous, never found the chance to equalize and allowed the home team to control the final and win.
Rabiot saves Juventus in the 91st minute, with Salernitana finishing 1-1
Fifth draw in a row for Juventus who haven’t won for more than a month and postpone the appointment with qualification for the next Champions League for a couple of hours: then Atalanta’s victory over Roma gives the pass to the top European competition for club to Max Allegri’s team. Against already relegated Salernitana, the Bianconeri fell behind in the 27th minute of the first half due to a goal from Pierozzi and saved themselves in the 91st minute with a goal from Rabiot. Once again, Allegri’s team tries subduedly (15 points in the last 15 games with only two victories) but can however complain about three hits at the posts. Now Juventus is third in the standings with 67 points together with Bologna and could still win the Champions League tonight if Roma don’t win at the Gewiss Stadium against Atalanta. Proud performance of the Granata team which remains last with 16 points but returns to move the table after 4 defeats in a row. The first shot of the match came from the guests in the 6th minute with Pierozzi, who from outside the area fired a right-foot shot which Szczesny blocked without any particular problems. After two minutes the first big chance of the match arrives when Dusan Vlahovic gets it with a great left-footed shot from over twenty meters which Fiorillo manages to deflect onto the crossbar. In the 20th minute the Serbian striker was the first booked player of the match, the referee punished him for a harsh challenge on Coulibaly in midfield. Shortly afterwards Rabiot also ends up in the referee’s notebook for a late intervention on Coulibaly again.
In the 27th minute the Granata surprisingly took the lead. Pierozzi scores his first goal in Serie A with a header following an assist from Sambia: Szczesny touches but fails to clear. In the 32nd minute Sambia’s dangerous free kick from 25 meters: Szczesny dives and puts it in the corner. In the 35th minute, a great shot by Bremer from about 30 meters with the ball just wide. A minute passes and Salernitana comes close to doubling their lead: Ikwuemesi is launched all alone in the area from a central position, the Nigerian reaches for the ball and Szczesny closes him on the way out, there is also a contact but for the referee everything is in order. In the 43rd minute there was a great chance for the home team, with Cambiaso’s left-footed shot from the edge of the center left and the ball chipped off the post.
Allegri revolutionizes Juve at half-time by introducing Chiesa, Miretti and Iling Jr for Kean, McKennie and Kostic. In the 7th minute Var checked for a possible handball by Rabiot in the area. Corner from the right: attempt to advance again by Pierozzi at the near post as on the goal and advance by the Frenchman, perhaps with his arm. No on field review and we continue playing. In the 11th minute Fazio heads a free kick from the left three-quarters but the conclusion is just over. In the 12th minute Juventus protested for a tackle by Vignato on Locatelli in the area. Referee and VAR let the players play. In the quarter of an hour, great acceleration from Chiesa and a launch for Vlahovic who comes face to face against Fiorillo coming out, off-centre on the right: soft touch with his right diagonally, but the ball is wide. In the 17th minute, Chiesa’s cross shot from the center left of the area: Valhovic only has to put the ball into an empty net, but Pirola is good at positioning himself to advance, the ball bounces off Rugani who, by chance, just misses the target . At the half hour mark Allegri plays his last two cards by inserting Milik and Yildiz for Vlahovic and Rugani. In the 35th minute the Polish attacker tries to head a cross from the left, a precise but not powerful conclusion: Fiorillo dives and puts it in the corner. In the 38th minute Salernitana was dangerous on the counterattack: Tchaouna was launched on the right and challenged Gatti one-on-one, the Juventus defender shouldered it and closed it.
At 43′ third wood for Juventus: Miretti does everything, recovers the ball and hits a right foot from 20 meters from a central position, once again a mocking crossbar that hits the pitch but outside the goal line. The equalizer came in the first minute of injury time. Corner from the left: Locatelli extends his heel to the near post and Rabiot turns it into the net. In the 97th minute, a sensational counterattack chance for the guests: five against three, the winning shot goes to Basic who can shoot left-footed from the edge of the area with plenty of space, but sends it high. Curtain.