Atalanta Primavera end their UEFA Youth League journey in the round of 16 on a penalty shoot-out. It is a defeat that leaves a bitter taste in their mouth, as the win and qualification faded in the last of the four minutes of stoppage time, seconds away from the finish line, before penalties promoted Lyon to the quarter-finals after a 3-3 draw.
The match was played behind closed doors on the Bearzot pitch at the Coverciano Technical Centre and goals and feelings didn’t lack.
After some initial attempts from Guth, it was Piccoli that broke the deadlock: Cortinovis’s assist and great right-footed shot into the far bottom corner for the Nerazzurri bomber, who dedicated his seventh goal in the competition to Aldo Valerio, the Academy manager who recently passed away, whom he was very fond of. Between 29 and 30, Gelmi pulled off two important saves to deny Da Silva and Gouiri. On the following action, it was Cortinovis again who sent Cambiaghi to the goal this time, to beat the French goalkeeper with a clinical left-footed shot. On 33 Lyon shortened the gap with a great shot from Gouiri. Before half time (on 37) Cambiaghi almost scored a brace, but Margueron saved it with his feet.
In the second half, two minutes do not even come by and Lyon equalised through Duku, who ran into the area and found his way to beat Gelmi. Cambiaghi immediately answered to that with a shot that was saved by the flying French goalkeeper. It was a balanced and well-played match from both sides, but on 36 Piccoli broke the balance once again, beating the goalkeeper with a precise head lob from a set-piece after Heidenreich had headed it to Piccoli. When Gelmi denies Cherki’s attempt on 45, it looked like it was done, but the mockery arrived seconds away from the final whistle through Cherki, who found the equaliser. We go to the penalty shoot-out and Margueron’s save on Piccoli is the decider. Lyon progress, but our Primavera side deserve a round of applause for the wonderful path they had in their debut in an international competition.
ATALANTA-LIONE 3-3 (3-5 on penalties)
Goals: 20′ 1st half Piccoli (A), 30′ 1st half Cambiaghi (A), 33′ 1st half Gouiri (L), 2′ 2nd half Duku, 36′ 2nd half Piccoli (A), 49′ 2nd half Cherki (L).
Penalty shoot-out: Benaissa (L) goal, Guth (A) goal, Cherki (L) goal, Brogni (A) goal, Da Silva (L) goal, Piccoli (A) saved, Wissa (L) goal, Ruggeri (A) goal, Gouiri (L) goal.
Atalanta: Gelmi, Ghislandi, Ruggeri, Guth, Okoli, Heidenreich, Traore, Gyabuaa (50′ 2nd half Kobacki), Piccoli, Cortinovis (46′ 2nd half Finardi), Cambiaghi (50′ 2nd half Brogni). Bench: Dajcar, Bergonzi, Milani, Sidibe. Coach: Massimo Brambilla.
Lione: Margueron, Altikulac (40′ 2nd half Barcola), Bard, Diomande, Kalulu, Lukeba (23′ 2nd half Gusto), Pontet (34′ 2nd half Benaissa), Da Silva, Gouiri, Cherki, Duku (34′ 2nd half Wissa). Bench: Ousmane, Felix, Bonnet. Coach: Eric Hely.
Referee: Fran Jovic (CRO).
Assistants: Hrvoje Radic (CRO) e Luka Pusic (CRO).
Fourth official: Riccardo Ros (ITA).
Disciplinary notes: Guth (A); Pontet (L) booked
