The Italian newspapers have only positive words for Teun Koopmeiners. The midfielder scored twice against AC Milan on Wednesday evening and thus advanced with Atalanta to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. In Italy they are impressed by the influence of the Dutch.

Milan took a 1-0 lead just before half time, when Atalanta hit back from the kick-off. On a pass from Emil Holm, Koopmeiners scored with his inferior right. After the break, the Dutchman was allowed to score from eleven meters and sent Mike Maignan into the wrong corner.

“RoboKoop da rimonta Milan in tilt,” headlines Tuttosport. “Atalanta had never won in five cup matches at San Siro. Now they eliminate Milan thanks to a brace from the outstanding Dutchman. Koopmeiners is an Atalanta star. The authentic superstar of the match.”

Much controversy arose about Koopmeiners' second goal. Referee Marco Di Bello put the ball on the spot after a slight foul by Alejandro Jimenez. “But the calmness with which Koopmeiners converted the penalty into a 1-2 lead was admirable,” says Tuttosport further.

“Di Bello is one of the worst referees in Italy,” is the painful verdict. “Perhaps it was to compensate for the gigantic push in the back from Tijjani Reijnders at Marten de Roon. Then the VAR saw nothing in it. The question to Rocchi is always the same: what on earth is the VAR doing?”

Also La Gazzetta dello Sport saw an excellent Koopmeiners. “One-two Buy,” writes the pink sports newspaper. “Koopmeiners, together with Holm, was the best player on the field and brought out the cold in San Siro with his goals. Atalanta returns to the last four in the cup tournament after three years.”

Atalanta will face Fiorentina in the semi-finals (March 3 and 24), which was too strong for Bologna in the semi-finals after penalties. The other semi-final is between Lazio and the winner of the match between Juventus and Frosinone (Thursday evening).

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