Bergamo: Atalanta scored the biggest win in their history after beating Marseille 3-0 on Thursday to book their place in the Europa League final.
Goals from Ademola Lookman, academy product Matteo Ruggeri and El Bilal Toure took Atalanta to their first European final with a 4-1 win in front of their fans in Bergamo.
Atalanta’s progress to the Dublin final against Bayer Leverkusen was well deserved after a key performance from Marseille in a weak display from the Ligue 1 outfit later this month.
Marseille have won just four games on the road in all competitions this season and Louisan-Louis Gasset’s side were unable to come back after Ruggeri put Atalanta two ahead in the 52nd minute, and Toure put the icing on the cake when he was suspended.
“We (Leverkusen) will try to challenge, but we can’t think about that now, we have to take it one game at a time,” Ruggeri told Sky Sport.
“Hopefully we can continue, we have to enjoy the opportunity and give the final the best chance.”
Atalanta, who usually punch above their weight under Gian Piero Gasperini, the provincial team, can complete the season with two trophies when they meet Juventus in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.
A remarkable achievement for a club whose only Coppa Italia trophy was in 1963, while Atalanta previously qualified for European competition and became a second division team in 1988, finishing in the last four of the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Atalanta could also qualify for next season’s revamped Champions League via Serie A, as they currently sit in fifth and final Italy for Europe’s top club competition.
Leverkusen host Roma in the other semi-final on Sunday night in a match that could decide who finishes in the top five.
“It’s good not only for us, but also for the people of Bergamo. It’s a good result,” said Atalanta president Antonio Percassi.
“We always say we don’t want to move. Where we are now is unthinkable.”
Atalanta dominated the first whistle and was unlucky in the sixth minute when Charles De Ketelaere hit the post.
Scamacca made a strong effort after 10 minutes, shortly after in-form striker Pau Lopez De Quetelaere headed home from close range after a chaotic corner.
On the half-hour, Lookman gave Atalanta the lead on the night and rounded off the scoring with his 12th goal of the season, the Nigerian striker making a poor save at the feet of Samuel Gigot before slotting past Lopez.
The hosts came out with more speed for the second half and Iliman Ndiaye was penalized by Marseille four minutes after he committed a foul in his own room with Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso.
Marseille were punished two minutes later for Ranieri’s second goal of the campaign with an unstoppable shot after exchanging passes with Atalanta academy product Lookman.
Marseille could get back into the tie when Jordan Veretout’s free kick surprised Moussa and clipped the top of the crossbar.
But it will be more than the French side deserved in a one-sided encounter, with the clock ticking down and fireworks are exploding outside the stadium, Toure charged unhindered and scored a point that saw the game in the balance.
It was a quiet finish and it was a difficult third season for the Malian striker – Atalanta’s record goalscorer – who only returned to action in February after suffering a serious knee injury in August.
