RB Leipzig was the first team to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday evening. After the first game had ended in 1-1, the German top club visited Atalanta via twice eye-catcher Christopher Nkunku: 0-2 win. Atalanta had a frustrating evening, in which Leipzig managed to abort almost every Italian attack well in advance.
The entire Dutch delegation appeared at the kick-off at Atalanta. Marten de Roon took place on the right in the three-man defence, Hans Hateboer played on that side as wingback and Teun Koopmeiners was in midfield. The organization of the Italians was completely separated after eighteen minutes by Leipzig, which started a successful attack with a short goal kick by Péter Gulácsi. Konrad Laimer was able to cross on the right with the ball at his foot and put a low cross, where Christopher Nkunku simply walked in: 0-1.
It offered Leipzig the ideal starting point to sink in and gamble on the quick counterattack. Atalanta tried with all their might for an opening, but barely managed to do so throughout the match. Koopmeiners was active and fired several shots before the break, the most promising of which came on the heels of teammate Remo Freuler.
Immediately after the break there were more moments of excitement. Atalanta claimed a penalty when Ruslan Malinovsky shot a hard free kick to the arm off Dani Olmo. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz was called to the side, but after extensive deliberation, stuck to his initial decision: no penalty. Immediately afterwards, Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso unexpectedly missed a roller on the other side. Laimer seemed to take advantage, but tapped just wide.
Atalanta had one more chance at the equalizer via Hateboer, but the right back slipped just over the sharp cross by Davide Zappacosta at the far post. Nkunku failed to close the game with a clear shot, leaving Atalanta alive. That changed four minutes before the end when Nkunku was tapped by Musso: penalty kick Leipzig, which was shot in flawlessly by the star player: 0-2.