Italian side Atalanta stunned Liverpool on Thursday night in the first leg Europa League quarter final match at Anfield winning by 3-0
Former West Ham forward Gianluca Scamacca scored in each half, before ex-Chelsea player Mario Pasalic added a late third goal to ensure the Italians start as strong favourites to reach the semi-finals when the sides meet in next Thursday’s return in Bergamo.
Scamacca broke the deadlock in the 38th minute after Caoimhin Kelleher allowed his low drive to creep under him.
On a deeply frustrating night for below-par Liverpool, Darwin Nunez missed two big chances, while Harvey Elliott’s curling attempt struck the bar before dropping on to the post.
Scamacca – who had just one season at West Ham before joining Atalanta last August – took advantage of being left unmarked by doubling the lead with a crisp finish on the hour.
Pasalic’s 83rd-minute strike came after Brazilian midfielder Ederson was afforded too much space to shoot and, when Kelleher made a save, the Croatian snapped up the rebound to score.
The winners of this tie will face Benfica or Marseille in the semi-finals, with Benfica establishing a 2-1 first-leg advantage to take to France next week.
Europa League: Atalanta Stun Liverpool 3-0 At Anfield
