Atalanta’s historic European journey continued as they secured a place in the Europa League semifinals despite a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Thursday. The Serie A side’s 3-0 triumph in the first leg at Anfield proved decisive, as they held on to a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Liverpool, seeking a fairytale ending to manager Jurgen Klopp’s final season, started brightly and took the lead through Mohamed Salah’s penalty in the seventh minute. However, Atalanta’s resolute defense and tactical discipline prevented the Reds from mounting a significant comeback.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, playing in their biggest game in club history, absorbed Liverpool’s pressure and created several chances of their own. Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel both came close to extending Atalanta’s lead, but their efforts were thwarted by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
In the second half, Liverpool continued to dominate possession but struggled to break down Atalanta’s compact defense. The Italian side’s counter-attacking threat remained potent, and they could have sealed the tie with a second goal on several occasions.
As the game entered its final stages, Liverpool threw everything forward in search of an equalizer. However, Atalanta’s defense held firm, and they secured a famous victory that sent them into the semifinals for the first time in their history.
Meanwhile, newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen also reached the semifinals, but they were pushed to the limit by West Ham United. The German side drew 1-1 away at the London Stadium, but their 3-1 aggregate victory ensured their progression.
Xabi Alonso’s team trailed to Michail Antonio’s early header and looked shaky in the first half. However, they improved dramatically after the break and squandered numerous opportunities before Jeremie Frimpong’s deflected shot found the net in the 89th minute.
Despite their below-par performance, Leverkusen extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 39 games and remain on course for a treble.
