Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 8:42 PM• Mart van Mourik • Last update: 20:51

RB Leipzig and Atalanta balanced each other on Thursday evening. In the Red Bull Arena, Luis Muriel provided the opening goal in the first half and Davide Zappacosta leveled the score after halftime with an own goal: 1-1. The return of the quarterfinals of the Europa League will take place in Bergamo in exactly one week.

Trainer Gian Piero Gasperini gave a starting spot to all Dutchmen he had at his disposal. In the five-man defence, Hans Hateboer was placed on the right back position, while Marten de Roon was on the right in the center. Teun Koopmeiners was given a place in midfield. Atalanta shot from the starting blocks and took a 0-1 lead after more than fifteen minutes of play. Luis Muriel cut in from the left and placed the ball brilliantly into the top corner with the right.

† Luis Muriel puts Atalanta ahead with a great goal! † ESPN #?? #RBLATA #UEL pic.twitter.com/cOxAfXAsZb

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Apr 7, 2022

Afterwards, the visitors were given an excellent opportunity to expand the advantageous margin. The scorer of the first goal, however, did not have his sights sharp this time and pushed the leather just wide. Halfway through the first act, RB Leipzig also came close to a goal. Matteo Pessina handed the ball in incomprehensibly to André Silva, who then shot the post. Atalanta also hit the aluminum before the halftime signal: Mario Pasalic sprinted past Willy Orban but was unfortunate in the completion with a shot on the post.

In the second act, RB Leipzig tied the score. Referee Michael Oliver awarded a penalty to the Germans after a foul in the box by Merih Demiral. Goalkeeper Juan Musso took the penalty from André Silva and then the closing post also prevented Orban from scoring from the rebound. The attack continued down the left flank, where Angeliño was given the time and space to deliver a perfect cross on the five-meter range. In an attempt to keep Orban off the ball, Zappacosta scored an own goal: 1-1. Five minutes later, Koopmeiners had it 2-1, as he cut in from the right, but the shot that followed hit the post. Fifteen minutes before the end, Dominik Szoboszlai nodded on the crossbar on behalf of the home team. There was therefore no change to the tie on the scoreboard.