Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta thinks once again to save the face of the Italian teams in Europe. The ‘Goddess’ conquers the BayArena with Boga’s paw in full recovery and continues her adventure in the Europa League, qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Orobics play an intelligent race in the first half, which slipped away almost without risk, and suffering in the second, when the pressure of the Germans increased by the minute. The Lombard, led in defense by a monumental Demiral, however, were able to keep their nerve even in the excited final, when Boga scratched with a solo action on the counterattack by spreading a Bayer too light in front and penalized by the absences of two pivotal players like Wirtz and Schick. The team that deserved it the most passed the round between the two rounds. And considering the quality of Leverkusen, third force in the Bundesliga, Toloi (forced to leave after a few minutes due to a muscle problem) and his teammates can look forward to both the championship and the European journey.
Compared to the frenzied pace of the first leg, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen start at a small trot. They study, respect each other, fear each other. The Goddess starts with a good pressure but at the first real goal of the hosts after less than ten minutes – Diaby face to face with the goalkeeper gets blocked by Musso – lowers the center of gravity and limits himself to making possession of the ball, waiting to trigger Muriel’s speed and Malinovskiy’s technique. The Germans, who have to do without the starlet Wirtz as well as Schick and Frimpong, all injured, give up a true first striker like Alario and rely on the more mobile Diaby. The defenses, however, prevail over the attacks, the guests apart from a couple of conclusions from outside scare the BayArena right in the recovery with a header from Demiral just above the crossbar.
In the second half the match is livened up, above all thanks to the ‘aspirin’, in search of the goal that would prolong the contest in extra time. Musso once again saves the Goddess on the conclusion of Diaby without fail, who wastes only in front of the Argentine, decisive with a foot intervention. Shortly after an attempt from the heart of the Aranguiz area at the invitation of Palacios, high ball but another alarm bell for the Orobics. Bayer takes courage every minute, especially after the triple change that brings strength and freshness to the hosts, with Bellarabi and Andrich particularly inspired. The latter forces Musso to a difficult plastic parade. Atalanta is in trouble, Gasperini tries to change the inertia of the match by inserting Boga first, then Pezzella and Pessina. The ending, however, is in the trenches, all of the German brand. Until the goal-release of the former Sassuolo winger, who condemns Bayer in full recovery and gives another European night to frame the Goddess.