Ademola Lookman, Matteo Ruggeri and El Bilal Touré scored in Atalanta’s 3-0 win over Marseille for a 4-1 aggregate victory in their Europa League semi-final. The Italian side will meet Bayer Leverkusen, who overcame Roma, in their first European final, in Dublin on 22 May.
Lookman put Atalanta ahead in the second leg on the half-hour with a long-range strike past Pao López before setting up Ruggeri to double the lead seven minutes after the break.
Atalanta’s repeated attacks, with Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta threatening, overwhelmed the visitors, who had few chances, and Touré, a substitute, put the final seal on the victory with their third four minutes into added time.
“My first goal in Bergamo is a very big emotion,” Ruggeri told SkySports Italia. “Now we can dream with our eyes open that we’re in the final. It’s a moment to celebrate with our people.”
Atalanta are aiming for a trophy double as they also face Juventus in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday, with their 1963 Coppa Italia triumph being their only major silverware.
Their coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, said of the Dublin final: “It will be a historic occasion for a team like ours who don’t have the numbers [of fans] to win. It’s really incredible but it bodes well for everyone.
“Numbers seem to be important, it seems that you have to have Super Leagues, but the example of Atalanta can give hope. Football is beautiful because of meritocracy, not because of acquired rights.”
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Atalanta are fifth in Serie A and also have their sights set on a Champions League qualifying spot via the domestic league. They face a showdown at home to sixth-placed Roma on Sunday.
Source: theguardian.com
