Atalanta Bergamo will compete in the Champions League in the 2024/25 season – regardless of the outcome of the Europa League final. The in-form Scamacca also “threatened” Leverkusen in Lecce
Atalanta Bergamo will have had one eye on Augsburg on Saturday afternoon. Is Bayer 04 Leverkusen perhaps losing its aura of invincibility ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final in Dublin? The Werkself gave their answer with a 2:1 home win and finished the Bundesliga as unbeaten champions with 90 points.
However, Atalanta, who had lost the Coppa Italia final to Juventus 1-0 during the week, got back to winning ways early on Saturday evening. The 2-0 win in Lecce means that the team’s managers can now assemble a Champions League squad. Roma are six points and nine goals behind La Dea with two matchdays to go
In the first 45 minutes, however, Bergamo still had to shake the Coppa final out of their clothes. Nevertheless, coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s team created chances. First Miranchuk failed to beat keeper Falcone from distance, then Pasalic failed to beat Lecce’s goalkeeper from close range (4th, 7th).
Zappacosta thunders against the post
The home side then broke free, but Piccoli – on loan to Lecce from Atalanta – failed to beat Musso twice in the space of 60 seconds (9′). Zappacosta had the best chance of the first 45 minutes when his shot from a half-left position in the penalty area thundered against the right-hand post (39′). At the other end, Dorgu’s goal was rightly disallowed for offside (45′).
Two new players came on at the break, and the favourites’ coaching team proved to have the right instinct: seconds after Lecce had a great chance (Krstovic shot over, 47′), Atalanta took the lead through a joker – Scamacca played in the run-in de Ketelaere, who lifted the ball over Falcone (48′).
Falcone sails past – Scamacca again and again
Bergamo were now in control and took the lead in the 53rd minute. This time Falcone made a bad save, misjudging a Miranchuk corner and allowing Scamacca to head in. The 25-year-old full-blooded striker has been directly involved in eight goals in his last six Serie A games. Leverkusen would therefore be well advised not to give the 15-time Italian international too much space.
The game was then over, with the favorites conserving their energy ahead of Wednesday. Piccoli had the last chance again, desperate to score for his parent club, but Musso steered his dangerous free-kick just wide of the post (86′).
The 20th win in their 36th Serie A game means Atalanta can focus fully on the Europa League, as the final league games against Torino and Florence are likely to turn into an exhibition match.