Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Matteo Ruggeri, and El Bilal Toure all got their name on the scoresheet to send the Italians into their first Europa League final, securing a dominant 3-0 win over Olympique de Marseille for a 4-1 aggregate victory on Thursday. The Italians, who have never made it to a European final, will face Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final on May 22 (Wednesday) in Dublin. Atalanta is looking for a trophy double when they meet Juventus in the Italian Cup final on May 16 (Thursday), their lone major trophy being the 1963 Coppa Italia.
The 26-year-old winger Lookman put Atalanta ahead in the semi-final second leg on the half-hour mark with a long-range strike past Pao Lopez, setting up young Ruggeri to score seven minutes later. Atalanta’s persistent raids, with Gianluca Scamacca and Davide Zappacosta threatening, overwhelmed the visitors, who had few chances in Bergamo.
Marseille have only won four games on the road in all competitions this season, and after Ruggeri put Atalanta ahead in the 52nd minute, Jean-Louis Gasset’s side had no way back, with Toure adding the icing in stoppage time. Atalanta, a historically provincial team that has consistently outperformed its size under Gian Piero Gasperini, might possibly finish the season with two trophies.
My first goal in Bergamo is a very big emotion. Now we can dream that we’re in the final with our eyes open. It’s a moment to celebrate with our people, Ruggeri told Sky Sports after clinching a historic win. We’ll try to put Leverkusen in difficulty, but we can’t think about that now, we have to take it one game at a time. Let’s hope we can keep going, we’ve just got to enjoy the moment and give it our best shot in the final, the 21-year-old Italian added.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini said in a press conference that it will be a historic occasion for a team like ours who don’t have the numbers (of fans) to win. It’s incredible but it bodes well for everyone. Numbers seem to be important; you have to have Super Leagues, but the example of Atalanta can give hope. Football is beautiful because of meritocracy, and not because of acquired rights, he added.
Atalanta is currently placed fifth in Serie A and is hoping to qualify for the Champions League through the domestic competition. Atalanta will play Roma, who are in sixth place on Monday, May 13.
