Ademola Lookman played a starring role as Atalanta booked their spot in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final with a 3-0 victory at home to Marseille.
The Nigeria international struck a deflected opener on the half hour mark and was a constant menace throughout as La Dea secured a 4-1 success on aggregate.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side looked the more threatening from the off with Gianluca Scamacca hitting the woodwork and Charles De Ketelaere twice going close to putting the tie beyond the French outfit, before Lookman broke the deadlock from distance.
Iliman Ndiaye lobbed wide with a gilt-edged chance to level for the visitors following the restart and he was made to pay on 52 minutes when Matteo Ruggeri played a one-two with Lookman and rifled a stunning strike into the top corner.
Marseille almost seized a lifeline when Jordan Veretout’s deep free-kick was misjudged by La Dea keeper Juan Musso, but cannoned back off the crossbar.
Atalanta then put the icing on the cake deep into stoppage time through substitute El Bilal Toure and will now meet Bayer Leverkusen or AS Roma in their first ever major European final in Dublin on May 22.
More to follow…