PLAYER RATINGS | Marseille 1-1 Atalanta: Hell was promised but rarely delivered

UEFA Europa Leauge, Semi-Final, 02/05/2024

Pablo Longoria had promised hell would await Atalanta as they arrived at the Stade Vélodrome. The Olympique de Marseille president was referencing the impressive home record his side have maintained despite their trials and turmoils this season. It is their noisy secret weapon, their advantage when all else seems to be crumbling to chaos.

And as Atalanta strode forth with their first attack there was a slither of silence before the noise once again returned in full force. Gianluca Scamacca had been the perfect target man, using his physique to gain control of a long ball, before completing the attack with a tidy but powerful finish.

The Véldrome can rarely be silenced for long. The faithful could not be shaken from their devotion and their reward was a wonderful strike from an unlikely source. A well-worked passing move from a short corner found Chancel Mbemba on the edge of the box.

The defender perhaps with Emmanuel Macron’s message of good luck ringing through his ears took an audacious chance and his shot sailed into the post where it bounded home. Marseille kept up the pressure and hit their guests with this sustained intensity which looked as if it unsettled Atalanta out of their usual rhythms.

Once again a set piece looked as if it had opened up the Italian side as the ball fell to the most dangerous player on the pitch. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang collected the ball but his shot was left wanting and scrappily taken. Again the striker was the recipient of a dangerous opportunity as he spearheaded a counter-attack but his shot trickled wide.

The second half began with another chance from Aubameyang. The forward was keen to add to his already historic Europa League total. The