Gian Piero Gasperini’s Orobic side met Ruben Amorim’s Lusitanians again this evening, after having already faced them in the group stage. The third time this season. The match between Sporting CP and Atalanta took place at the José Alvalade stadium in Lisbon, the first leg of the round of 16 of the Europa League. The Goddess was coming off two consecutive defeats in the league, against Inter and Bologna, and had a great desire for redemption. The progress of Gasperini’s men in the Europa League has been impeccable: undefeated, like them only Bayer Leverkusen, leaders in the Bundesliga. And even more so, tonight, Atalanta aspired to victory, to go where it has never reached in history in a continental competition. And the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 ends 1-1. Everything happens in the first half: Paulinho breaks the deadlock in the 17th minute with a surgical diagonal shot, Scamacca equalizes the score in the 40th minute with an angled shot. Unlucky goddess with three posts hit in ninety minutes. The return is scheduled in a week, on March 14, in Bergamo, at 9pm.
The first half ends in a draw: 1-1. Lusitani started aggressively and broke the deadlock with Paulinho who in the 17th minute beat Musso with a left diagonal, taking advantage of an error in the Nerazzurri defence. The Goddess thus finds herself having to chase, but does not give up, raises her center of gravity and in the end manages to find various scoring opportunities. But the most important was Scamacca’s signature, who found the net in the 40th minute with his left foot, and consequently the equalizer. Gasperini’s team also hits two posts. Game in balance. We return to the locker room aware that we have created more opportunities than the home team, but were unable to finish.
Second half. Sporting restarts very strongly in search of a double. Substitution for Gasperini: Hien out, Scalvini in. Amorim also makes the first substitutions: Edwards, Koindredi and Diomande come out, Hjulmand, St. Juste and Gyokeres come on. The Goddess is giving it her all and moves forward trying to turn the match around. In the 59th minute, Lookman controlled the ball under Quaresma’s legs, then swerved on Coates and shot towards goal, hitting yet another post of the Nerazzurri’s evening. In the 62nd minute the post also came for the Portuguese side with a cross-court header from Coates. In the 72nd minute other changes for Gasperini: Miranchuk and Lookman come out, Koopmeiners and De Ketelaere come on. While Amorim sends Esgaio onto the pitch in place of Paulinho. In the 74th minute another big opportunity for the Nerazzurri: Ederson’s cross from the back for Kolasinac’s header which goes just wide. Mister Gasperini despairs on the bench. Final of this second half with Atalanta back in pressure. Sporting in pain. A goal for the Bergamo team was canceled out in the 86th minute by Touré, who hit the target with an overhead kick. But he is offside. 4′ of added time. And it ends in a draw: 1-1. The quarter-final will be decided in the next match scheduled for a week’s time: March 14th at the Gewiss Stadium.
Associated Press/LaPresse
Europa League – Sporting Lisbona vs Atalanta
Associated Press/LaPresse
Europa League – Sporting Lisbona vs Atalanta
Associated Press/LaPresse
Europa League – Sporting Lisbona vs Atalanta