Ademola Lookman scored as Atalanta secured their spot in the Europa League final with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Marseille at the Gewiss Stadium. The former Everton and Fulham winger found the net on the half-hour mark with a deflected strike that slipped past Marseille’s goalkeeper Pau Lopez into the bottom corner.
Matteo Ruggeri extended Atalanta lead early in the second half with a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner. Substitute El Bilal Toure added to Atalanta triumph by scoring with the final kick of the game in injury time.
Having reached their first final in European competition, Gian Piero Gasperini team will face Xabi Alonso undefeated Bayer Leverkusen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 22. Atalanta who eliminated Liverpool in the previous round missed several opportunities to widen the gap in the first half.
Marseille had a chance to level the tie early in the second half but former Sheffield United forward Iliman Ndiaye missed the target with his lobbed effort over Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso. However, Atalanta maintained their attacking style and Ruggeri brilliant strike in the 52nd minute calmed the home crowd in Bergamo.
Jordan Veretout hit the crossbar with a free-kick from 40 yards as Marseille attempted to claw back into the game which ended in a 1-1 draw in the first leg in France. Nevertheless, Atalanta secured a third goal in the fourth minute of added time when Mali striker Toure finished superbly across Lopez.
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