Charles De Ketelaere netted twice to assist Atalanta enhance their probabilities of returning to the Champions League with a 2-1 win over direct rival Roma on Sunday, with the outcome clinching spots in Europe’s high competitors for Juventus and Bologna.
De Ketelaere scored the 2 targets inside as many minutes within the first half, however Lorenzo Pellegrini arrange a tense ultimate quarter of the match by scoring from the spot.
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Fifth-place Atalanta moved three factors above Roma and has additionally performed a match much less. The highest 5 in Serie A qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League and there are two rounds remaining within the Italian league.
The outcome additionally meant Juventus secured a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League regardless of being held to a 1-1 draw by Salernitana earlier within the day. It additionally confirmed Bologna’s first look within the Champions League.
However it was extra distress for Roma which was eradicated from the Europa League midweek, giving up a two-goal lead to attract 2-2 at Bayer Leverkusen within the second leg of their semifinal.
Atalanta will face Leverkusen within the ultimate after beating Marseille.
The 2 groups have been in very completely different states with Atalanta stuffed with confidence after 5 wins in six matches and Roma the alternative following only one win in the identical interval.
Atalanta took the lead within the 18th minute when De Ketelaere raced onto Gianluca Scamacca’s via ball and reduce previous Roma defender Gianluca Mancini earlier than firing into the far aspect of the web.
De Ketelaere doubled his tally two minutes later after being arrange by Teun Koopmeiners following a one-two with Scamacca.
De Ketelaere had quite a few different probabilities to finish a hat trick – together with a shot that got here off the submit – in a magical efficiency from the on-loan AC Milan midfielder, whereas Koopmeiners additionally hit the submit with a free kick shortly earlier than the interval.
Roma bought again into the match when Pellegrini drilled a penalty into the underside left nook after Atalanta defender Marten de Roon had tripped Tammy Abraham.
Juventus hit the woodwork thrice earlier than a late aim from Adrien Rabiot allowed them to grab a degree at house to backside membership Salernitana, who snapped a run of 4 losses.
Juventus rested plenty of gamers forward of Wednesday’s Italian Cup ultimate in opposition to Atalanta, though Massimiliano Allegri rang the adjustments after his crew was jeered off the sphere at half-time, making three substitutions.
However by that time Juventus was trailing after Niccolò Pierozzi headed a nook between house goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny and the close to submit for his first Serie A aim.
Juventus rescued a degree in stoppage time when Manuel Locatelli backheeled on a nook for Rabiot to come back sliding onto on the far submit.
Info from The Related Press was used on this story.
