Europa League: Atalanta Humbles Liverpool, Roma Beats Milan
Liverpool fell to a shock 3-0 home defeat by Italian club Atalanta on Thursday as Gianluca Scamacca struck twice in their UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg, while AS Roma secured a 1-0 win away at AC Milan in a tense encounter.
Atalanta took the lead at Anfield after 38 minutes when an unmarked Scamacca latched on to Davide Zappacosta’s cross to strike a low shot past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Striker Scamaca then pounced on poor Liverpool defending to fire home from a fine cross by Charles De Ketelaere in the 60th minute, before Mario Pasalic sealed the victory seven minutes from time with a simple finish off a rebound from Kelleher.
A memorable night for Atalanta at Anfield 😤#UEL pic.twitter.com/I007tEZvy9
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 11, 2024
“Unfortunately, there is nothing really positive to say about the game,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. “I know already that if we do a couple of things better, we will be better.”
“Can we win it back? Yes, if we play good it is possible. Can we win 3-0? I have no idea. But this feels really bad and that’s important.”
AC Milan 0-1 AS Roma
Roma upset hosts AC Milan as Gianluca Mancini scored to end the capital club’s nine-match winless run against Stefano Pioli’s side, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.
The visitors took the lead thanks to Mancini’s pinpoint header from Paulo Dybala’s corner in the 17th minute to score the only goal of the match.
Roma take a lead back to the capital 👊#UEL pic.twitter.com/H3HYViOWe0
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 11, 2024
“We should have been more courageous,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli said. “We created some chances, but I didn’t see the same quality as in the last matches.”
“This team can do more, I know that. I didn’t expect the defeat, we weren’t precise, we lacked the flair.”
The second legs of the Europa League quarter-finals will be played next Thursday.
Thursday’s Europa League results
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 West Ham
Benfica 2-1 Marseille
Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta
AC Milan 0-1 AS Roma.
Europa League/Reuters/Chidi Nwoke.
