This Wednesday at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, Naples and Atalanta sealed a goalless draw, in a semifinal key that promised goals and emotions, and which happened to have a triple Colombian presence. David Ospina, with Napoli, played the entire game, while Luis Muriel and Duván Zapata, with Atalanta, played 73 ‘and 80’, respectively.
In the first leg, the best offense was shown by Atalanta, who despite constantly generating risk failed to finish. Luis Muriel was the most insistent, but he found an inspired Koulibaly, who supported David Ospina until the last gasp of the game.
The visitor, with Zapata and Muriel on the wing, sought to disturb Ospina’s estates from very early on.
Although Atalanta had a better offensive proposal, he found a defensive wall led by Koulibaly, who helped the Colombian goalkeeper to clear more than one dangerous action.
The Colombian goalkeeper began to appear from minute 11, when Luis Fernando Muriel executed a free kick that demanded it. The ball was looking to get into the corner and David reached to send it to the corner kick. Ten minutes later he had another one, this time a heads up with Pessina. The Naples goalkeeper deflected with his feet.
Before ending the first half, the Antioquia goalkeeper had a new intervention, this time with a shot from Zapata. Ospina controlled without problems. Intense game, high pressure and recovery, which went to halftime scoreless.
For the complementary stage the panorama did not change. Atalanta continued to gain confidence and sought to harm Napoli, but once again the Colombian responded under three sticks. In two minutes, Muriel attacked the ball and her compatriot cut off the play. The goalkeeper had to be treated after the strong crash.
One of the last actions had Koulibaly as the main protagonist. The defender never left Ospina alone and that he became one of the 0-0 figures. The 61st minute passed when he appeared with a formidable closure, which drowned out the goal cry to the Bergamo team, when he was mounted in the game.
In the end, Naples and Atalanta divided honors and left everything for the return that will be next week.
It should be remembered that the other semifinal was played on Tuesday and Juventus, Juan Cuadrado’s team, won against Inter (1-2).
