Eintracht Frankfurt win the 25th edition of the Achille and Cesare Bortolotti Trophy on penalty kicks. At the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, the German side did not miss any of their penalties after regulation time ended 2-2. All in all, it was a festive evening as the two fanbases are linked by a deep historical friendship and this friendly match also served as an occasion to remember two great presidents who made the history of the club.
The match immediately turned out to be an entertaining one. After a Touré sliding clearance to deny Højlund 10 minutes into the game, the deadlock was broken by on the quarter-hour mark, as Højlund rolled it across for Lookman, who just needed to tap the ball in. Eintracht’s response arrived in the 31st minute with a great Lenz effort which Musso pushed around the post. Two minutes later, Højlund sent Boga clear on goal inside the box with a back-heel flick but Ramaj thwarted him. On 37 minutes, Atalanta’s counterattack saw Højlund hit the side netting one-on-one with Ramaj from a tight angle. Tuta almost brought Eintracht level on 39 minutes but his curler smashed the post. However, the equalizer did arrive a few minutes later through Alario.
The visitors took the lead three minutes into the second half, Alario being the scorer again. Yet the Nerazzurri’s reaction was not long in coming, as Højlund beat Ramaj in the 50th minute assisted by Lookman. Højlund almost bagged a brace on 52 minutes with a great left-foot shot from the edge of the box that smacked the crossbar. Gasperini’s men threatened again 74 minutes into the game, as Zapata set up Lookman but Ramaj pulled off another save. In the 75th minute, Lookman dribbled past a few defenders and fired a shot that clipped the post. Just like in 2016, it ended 2-2 and it took penalty kicks to award the trophy. And like six years ago, the penalty shootout awarded the silverware to Eintracht.
In the end, the ‘Valter Polini’ fair play trophy was also awarded to the fairest player, Eintracht’s Hasebe, while the ‘Mario Bresciani’ prize to the MVP of the match was awarded to Atalanta’s Scalvini.
ATALANTA 5-7 EINTRACHT FRANKFURT after the penalty shoot-out
(2-2 at the end of regulation time)
Scorers: Lookman 15 (A), Alario 43, 48 (EF), Højlund 50 (A)
Penalty shoot-out: Pellegrini (EF) goal, Toloi (A) saved, Ndicka (EF) goal, Zapata (A) goal, Ebimbe (EF) goal, Éderson (A) goal, Alario (EF) goal, Scalvini (A) goal, Borré (EF) goal.
Atalanta: Musso (Sportiello 56), Toloi, Palomino (Okoli 56), Scalvini, Hateboer (Zortea 78), Éderson, Malinovskyi (Djimsiti 56), Ruggeri, Lookman (Soppy 78), Boga (Muriel 56), Højlund (Zapata 56). Unused bench: Rossi, De Nipoti, Chiwisa, Tavanti, Palestra, Muhameti. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Ramaj, Touré (Onguenè 61), Smolcic, Ndicka, Buta (Chandler 61), Tuta (Brauburger 82), Hasebe (Loune 46), Lenz (Pellegrini 61), Borré, Ebimbe, Alario. Unused bench: Grahl, Mladenovic, Baum. Coach: Oliver Glasner.
Referee: Alessandro Prontera from Bologna.
Refereeing Assistants: Sergio Ranghetti from Chiari and Fabrizio Lombardo from Cinisello Balsamo.
Fourth official: Lorenzo Maggioni from Lecco.
Notes: Toloi (A), Borré (EF), and Zortea (A) booked.
