Atalanta are through to the Europa League quarter-finals after winning away to Bayer Leverkusen with a stoppage-time Jeremie Boga solo effort, 4-2 on aggregate.
La Dea won the first leg 3-2, so with the abolition of the away goals rule, they would go to extra time if losing by a one-goal margin, eliminated if defeated by two clear goals.
Europa and Conference Liveblog: Bayer Leverkusen-Atalanta and Roma-Vitesse
Duvan Zapata and Josip Ilicic were still unavailable, while Bayer switched to a 3-5-2 formation after losing Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong for the rest of the season to serious injuries. Patrik Schick was also still out, but Kerem Demirbay returned from suspension.
Juan Musso stood his ground for a decisive save on Moussa Diaby, but while clearing the ball, Rafael Toloi seemed to pull a muscle and had to be stretchered off.
Edmond Tapsoba got a touch to the Davide Zappacosta pull-back, pushing it beyond Luis Muriel and Hans Hateboer at the far post.
Muriel’s shot was deflected for a corner after running onto the Teun Koopmeiners through ball, while Merih Demiral nodded over from a corner.
Straight after the restart, Bayer had a huge chance when Diaby sprung the offside trap on a through ball, but Musso made a remarkable save one-on-one and Demirbay’s follow-up was deflected onto the side-netting.
Musso also punched Demirbay’s corner out from under the bar, while Muriel went on the counter, his pull-back deflected just over by a defender risking an own goal.
Man of the Match Merih Demiral made another sensational sliding tackle on Diaby in the final minute.
The 0-0 result would’ve taken Atalanta through, but they won it on the night as well, Jeremie Boga running from his own half and taking on three defenders to fire into the far top corner from the tightest of angles.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Atalanta (2-4 agg)
Boga 91 (A)
Unbelievable performance. Brilliant team and management. Sold Romero and for half the price replaced him with Femoral, who is arguably the best centre back in Serie A. I love that they are the last team standing in Europe (forget Roma). They play the best soccer in Italy and deserve it.
Demiral*
I hope Atalanta go all the way
It will be so much easier for Leverkusen if their opponent is a joke club like juventus. Bravo Atalanta for not humiliating us, keep going!