The step was too high for Olympique de Marseille who lost 3-0 against Atalanta Bergamo (4-1 on aggregate), and missed their chance to participate in the Europa League final. At the height of the event, the Italians were able to realize their opportunities, and will meet Bayer Leverkusen at the last stage of the competition, stunning against AS Roma (2-2).
The dream suddenly ends for Olympique de Marseille. Six years after their last Europa League final, OM had the opportunity to return to this last stage of the competition, but the Atalanta Bergamo stage was too tough. After a first leg where they showed an interesting face, to the point of clinching the draw at the Orange Vélodrome (1-1), the Phocéens were this time powerless at the Gewiss Stadium (3-0).
>> relive the elimination of OM against Atalanta
Pushed by their public, the Italians were able to count on goals from Ademola Lookman and Matteo Ruggeri to win, and get their ticket to the final of the European Cup where they will meet the invincible players of Bayer Leverkusen, the May 22 in Dublin, Ireland.
The amounts and Pau Lopez were not enough
From the first minutes, the formation of Gian Piero Gasperini set the tone of the match by increasing the offensive actions via an untenable Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere. If the amounts frustrated the Parisians during the Champions League semi-final second leg lost to Borussia Dortmund, they first succeeded for Jean-Louis Gasset’s men. In the 6th minute, De Ketelaere saw his shot deflected onto the post by an often decisive Pau Lopez.
After twenty minutes, it was Scamacca’s turn to find the bar. Despite Lopez’s saves and the amounts, the Italians managed to realize their opportunities. At the half-hour mark, Lookman was ideally served by De Ketelaere, and placed a shot slightly deflected by Samuel Gigot who found the small net of a helpless Lopez this time. Harmless in the first period, the Marseillais were even close to the break, but their Spanish goalkeeper wanted to maintain hope for his team, with a new parade in front of the decisive Belgian passer.
A failure that costs Ndiaye and OM dearly
Supporter of OM in his youth, Iliman Ndiaye did not have a very convincing first season in his favorite club, but was preferred to Ismaila Sarr in the starting eleven. A choice from Gasset which could have paid off, but the Senegalese striker did not know how to put on the hero’s costume.
In the 50th minute, Ndiaye overtakes Djimsiti. Seeing Musso advanced, the Marseillais tried the right lob, but the gesture was missed, and the ball went off target. A miss quickly punished by Atalanta. Two minutes later, Matteo Ruggeri comes out of his box to deliver a sublime shot finding Lopez’s top corner. One more blow for the Phocaeans, definitely not up to the occasion.
In difficulty in the game, OM nevertheless tried to be effective from set pieces, but if the amounts were initially beneficial to them, they also saved Atalanta. After the hour mark, the efficient Jordan Veretout put power into his long-range free kick. Surprised, Juan Musso is happy to see his bar save him. A new disappointment, a sign that it was not the evening of Marseillais.
A final sprint to play for OM
Despite the exits of Scamacca and De Ketelaere, and the entry of the savior against Benfica in the quarter-final Faris Moumbagna, the Marseillais did not reverse the course of the match. Worse still, the bill gets heavier with the former Reims player El Bilal Touré who finishes off OM at the end of the match (90+4) with a third goal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s teammates will now try to qualify for a European competition. 9th but with a game in hand, OM are five points behind 6th Lens. Place synonymous with the Europa Conference League.
