Match result - A last-minute goal secured an intense victory for Atalanta on Marseille’s turf during the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group phase.
The match between Marseille and Atalanta started at a high tempo from the outset. The Italian side took control with quick, short passing combinations, while Marseille attempted to apply pressure through fast counter-attacks. In the 13th minute, a pivotal moment occurred when goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli committed a foul inside the penalty box, awarding Atalanta a penalty. Nevertheless, Charles De Ketelaere failed to convert as Rulli made a brilliant save, keeping the scoreline at 0-0 for the hosts.
Marseille gradually regained control with the dynamic presence of Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front. Their shots forced goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi into several impressive saves. Despite this, Atalanta’s defense remained focused and successfully neutralized most of the opponent’s wing attacks. After a tightly contested first half, both teams went into the break with the score still goalless.
The lone goal by Lazar Samardzic (right) delivered the victory for Atalanta against Marseille
In the second half, Atalanta continued to play more incisively. Ademola Lookman persistently troubled Marseille’s defense and was the one who opened the scoring in the 69th minute following a perfect assist from Raoul Bellanova. However, this goal was disallowed by VAR due to offside.
In the final minutes, Marseille mounted a strong comeback. Both Greenwood and Aubameyang had chances to equalize but were either denied or narrowly missed the target. Unexpectedly, the visitors found success. In the 90th minute, Lazar Samardzic unleashed a stunning long-range shot that ignited part of the Velodrome crowd, sealing a dramatic 1-0 win for Atalanta.