In the first leg of the 2021-2022 UEFA Europa League knockout round playoffs, Atalanta claim an important 2-1 victory after coming from behind to beat Olympiacos at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

The Nerazzurri threatened in the opening minutes with Muriel, who skimmed the post on 8 minutes and captain Toloi, who missed the target at full stretch. However, it was Olympiacos to take the lead in the 16th minute through Soares, who scored with a right-foot shot. After Onyekuru threatened on 34 minutes, the Nerazzurri had the chance to bring things level through Pašalić, who nodded over and wide, then Pessina’s goal in the 45th minute was disallowed as Muriel was offside.

In the second half, Boga came off the bench to force a save from Vaclik, who also palmed away Malinovskyi’s free-kick on 54 minutes. It was Djimsiti to bring things level in the 61st minute with a glancing header from Koopmeiners’ corner. Two minutes later, Djimsiti bagged a brace with a right-foot shot from another Koopmeiners corner to give Atalanta the lead, which decided the first leg. The second leg will be in a week.

ATALANTA 2-1 OLYMPIACOS

Scorers: Soares 16 (O), Djimsiti 61, 63 (A).

Atalanta: Musso, Toloi, Demiral, Djimsiti, Mæhle (Hateboer 87), de Roon (Freuler 72), Pessina (Koopmeiners 46), Pezzella, Malinovskyi (Mihaila 65), Pašalić, Muriel (Boga 46). Unused bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Scalvini, Zappacosta. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Olympiacos: Vaclik, Papastathopoulos, Manolas, Cissè, Lala, M’Villa (Bouchalakis 85), A. Camara, Reabciuk, Masouras (M. Camara 64), Soares (El-Arabi 72), Onyekuru (Rony Lopes 85). Unused bench: Tsolakis, Kunde, Vrousai, Fadiga, Ba, Valbuena, Papadopoulos, Kitsos. Coach: Pedro Martins.

Referee: Sandro Schärer (SUI).
Assistants: Stephane De Almeida (SUI) and Jonas Erni (SUI).
Fourth official: Alessandro Dudic (SUI).
V.A.R.: Marco Fritz (GER).
A.V.A.R.: Fedayi San (SUI).

Notes: Pašalić (A), Demiral (A), Pezzella (A), Papastathopoulos (O) booked.