Verdict postponed until return to the “Gewiss Stadium”. Atalanta holds their ground, suffers but leaves the “Velodrome” with a precious 1-1 draw against Olympique Marseille. Scamacca’s initial goal was responded to by a goal from Mbemba in the first half.
The choices of the technicians
Jean-Louis Gasset relies on Aubameyang in attack at the center of the trident supported by Sarr and Luis Henrique. In midfield there is a former acquaintance of Italian football like Veretout flanked by Harit and another ex from our Serie A like Kondogbia. In defense in front of former Roma Pau Lopez there is room for a four-man line with Clauss, Mbamba, Balerdi and Murillo. Gian Piero Gasperini lines up an attack made up of Scamacca with De Ketelaere and Koopmeiners behind him while the midfield is made up of Ederson and De Roon with Zappacosta and Ruggeri on the flanks. Space for Musso in goal with Scalvini, Djimsiti and Kolasinac making up the back pack.
Scamacca calls, Mbemba answers
Infernal support for both “Virages” of the “Velodrome” but the stadium was silenced after just ten minutes when Koopmeiners received a ball from Ederson and served on the right side of the Scamacca area. The center forward is as lethal as at Anfield and with a perfect diagonal he surpasses Pau Lopez. Marseille’s response was not long in coming and with Luis Henrique he sent a right-wing cross to Sarr positioned at the far post. Musso comes out empty but Kolasinac saves everything with a header. The equalizer came shortly after when Mbemba fired a shot from distance which hit the post and went into the goal of a motionless Musso. The hosts turn up the heat and become dangerous with Harit: the midfielder finds the insertion of Veretout but Ederson is amazing to close with a slide. In the 42nd minute, Marseille counterattacked with Harit picking out Aubameyang but the former Arsenal player missed a great opportunity by kicking wide, one-on-one with Musso.
Suffering Atalanta
The second half opens with an opportunity for Aubameyang who receives it on the right side of the area and shoots first-time but is carefully saved by Musso. Two minutes later Koopmeiners shoots from distance but Pau Lopez sees the ball go and blocks it to the ground. In the eleventh minute Kondogbia tries and finishes towards the goal with the ball just flying over the crossbar of Musso’s goal. Marseille took the lead with Sarr’s header after a save by Musso on Aubameyang but the referee disallowed it due to an irregular starting position by Luis Henrique. In the 27th minute there was a risk for Atalanta with Ounahi freeing himself with a shot hitting the top of the crossbar. A few seconds from the ninetieth minute, the Nerazzurri would have the match ball with a counterattack by Pasalic and closed by Miranchuk but his left-footed shot aimed at the near post ends up at the bottom.
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