Dhe Leverkusen knew who they had to thank: the Bayer soccer pros and their keeper Lukas Hradecky applauded high fives after a thrilling game. Meanwhile, the Italian fans danced in the stands of the football temple of Atalanta Bergamo. In a gripping round of 16 first leg of the Europa League in northern Italy, the third-placed Bundesliga team lost 2-3 (1-2) but still had chances to advance to the next round. “A wild ride, I would say,” emphasized Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane on RTL: “A roller coaster ride of emotions.”
His team took the lead in the eleventh minute through Charles Aránguiz. With two goals in less than 120 seconds, the hosts turned the game on Thursday: Ukrainian international Ruslan Malinowski (23rd) and Luis Muriel (25th) scored for Bergamo. Shortly after the change of sides, match winner Muriel scored his second goal (49th).
“Atlanta has never let up,” Seoane said. When Bergamo was under pressure, Moussa Diaby put the Rhinelander in a decent starting position with his connecting goal (63′). “It’s all open. It’s going to be tight again,” emphasized the Bayer coach. Keeper Hradecky said that the fact that the away goals rule no longer existed was “shit” in view of the two goals scored by Bayer.
Why Seoane had called for a very good start in the first quarter of an hour became more than clear from the start. Atalanta, cheered on by their own fans, tried to take control of the game. But Bayer didn’t allow it. Just as technically adept, just as strong tactically, the Werkself held their own against the Italian hosts after the 1-1 draw against FC Bayern in the Bundesliga and even scored in the middle of their early urge phase.
First, Aranguiz failed with a fine free-kick flick over the wall at the inside post (9′). Shortly thereafter, the 32-year-old Chilean tried a low shot: this time there was nothing standing in the way. A great assist from Florian Wirtz went ahead.
The Bergamo pros looked at each other in amazement, the Bayer players cheered the Rhinelanders’ lead in the 50th Europa League game with a happy grin. But they didn’t get cocky. Despite the very strong first 20 minutes, there was no reason for that. Because Bergamo was unimpressed and freed itself from the pressure. It took the Italians less than two minutes to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, even without their top striker Duván Zapata, who had been injured for some time.
Atalanta Bergamo with Luis Muriel (left) defeats Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League.
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Build: AP
Both times the goals came through the middle. The fact that Malinowski managed to equalize caused an additional goosebump moment. Even before the kick-off, Bergamo fans had hung Ukrainian flags, and Malinowski kissed his wrist after his goal.
Only the strong captain Hradecky in the Bayer goal prevented a higher deficit in the period that followed, but he also had to admit defeat only a few minutes after the change of ends. And as with the 2-1, it was Muriel. The template came again from Malinowski.
Unlike at the beginning of the first half, the Bayer pros initially had no effective means against the attacking hosts. One like the injured striker Patrik Schick was also missing for relief.
Not much went forward at first, while Atalanta almost played a power play on goal from the strong Hradecky. The goal, which was so important, was all the more surprising: after a defensive mistake, Diaby got the ball, dribbled briefly and shot low into the corner from 18 meters.
