My Ultimate Gacha System-Chapter 275 - 265: Atalanta VS Bologna (Coppa Italia) IV
Koopmeiners reached him first and shoved his shoulder hard while shouting something that was lost in the noise, and Lookman grabbed his shirt and pulled him briefly before De Roon arrived and pointed firmly back toward their own half.
"Get back! Game’s not done!" De Roon’s voice cut through the celebration and his urgency pulled everyone’s attention back to the task.
On the touchline Gasperini nodded once and his expression showed satisfaction without celebration, and he was already turning to speak with his assistant about what adjustments Bologna would make in response.
The commentary was immediate and grounded without excessive focus on the individual.
"You can’t let him arrive there completely free—that’s the danger when your midfield doesn’t track second balls. Clinical finish, stays low, finds the corner. One-nil and Atalanta have the advantage they wanted."
**69’ - 78’ | Bologna’s Urgency**
Bologna reacted with immediate urgency as their shape stretched and their midfielders pushed higher rather than sitting deep, and the tactical shift left space behind them that Atalanta would look to exploit if opportunities arose.
In the seventy-first minute Bologna won the ball in midfield and Dominguez drove forward before playing it wide to Barrow, and the Gambian winger cut inside sharply while Mæhle recovered desperately.
Barrow’s cross came toward the penalty spot where Arnautovic was arriving ahead of Djimsiti, but the Austrian striker’s header was directed straight at Musso who caught it cleanly without difficulty.
Two minutes later another Bologna attack developed when Vignato received on the left wing and his pass went inside to Zirkzee, and the Dutch striker turned quickly before attempting to play Arnautovic through with a diagonal ball.
But Tolói read the trajectory and stepped across to intercept, and his sliding block deflected the ball out for a corner while the crowd roared approval for the defensive commitment.
The corner was delivered toward the near post and bodies converged in the six-yard box, but Djimsiti rose highest and his header cleared the danger before any Bologna player could attack the ball.
79’ |
With Bologna pushing forward and leaving space in wider pockets, Atalanta began finding gaps that hadn’t existed when Bologna’s shape was compact.
In the seventy-ninth minute Atalanta won possession when De Roon intercepted Dominguez’s pass in midfield, and the Dutch midfielder immediately played it forward to Demien who had drifted toward the right channel drawing Medel with him.
The pass arrived slightly behind Demien and he had to check back to collect it, and as he turned Medel stepped in aggressively to force a turnover because the Chilean midfielder sensed vulnerability in Demien’s body position.
But Demien’s first touch took the ball away from the pressure using the inside of his right foot, and his body pivoted sharply on his left foot while the ball dragged behind his standing leg in one fluid motion.
「LEGENDARY SKILL ACTIVATED」
「Johan Cruyff — Turn Innovator」
The movement created two yards of separation instantly as Medel’s momentum carried him past where Demien had been, and suddenly Demien was facing goal just outside the penalty area with a shooting lane opening before Bologna’s defenders could close it.
Lucumí stepped out from the defensive line but his movement came too late, and Demien’s next touch set the ball for his right foot without hesitation or unnecessary preparation.
The finish was driven low again with his technique clean and his weight transfer perfect, and the ball traveled across Skorupski’s dive toward the inside of the far post while the goalkeeper’s hand reached desperately but found only air.
ATALANTA 2-0 BOLOGNA
This time the reaction was louder and more sustained as the stadium understood the significance—two-nil up in a first leg meant the tie was effectively decided barring a collapse—and players swarmed Demien briefly before De Roon arrived and physically pulled them away.
"Back! Get back! Job’s not finished!" De Roon’s voice was sharp and commanding, and his hand pointed firmly toward the halfway line while preventing the celebration from extending too long.
Gasperini made his changes immediately as the fourth official prepared the substitution board, and fresh legs were being sent on to protect the back line and maintain control rather than chase a third goal that would be excessive rather than necessary.
The commentary acknowledged the quality without dramatizing it.
"Brilliant turn creates the space—that’s the Cruyff technique executed perfectly—and the finish is clinical again. Two-nil, first leg done effectively. Bologna need two goals at home just to force extra time now."
80’ - 90+3’ |
The final stretch was managed professionally as Atalanta recycled possession without forcing attacks, and every sequence was designed to kill momentum rather than create danger.
In the eighty-third minute Koopmeiners was substituted for Pasalic, and the Croatian midfielder’s instructions were simple—sit deep, help De Roon control the midfield, don’t commit forward unnecessarily.
Two minutes later Demien was replaced by Éderson, and as he jogged toward the touchline the stadium gave him a standing ovation that was loud and sustained while supporters recognized the performance without needing excessive ceremony.
Gasperini grabbed his hand as he reached the technical area and said, "Excellent work. Rest now," and Demien nodded before moving to the bench where he sat and accepted a water bottle from a staff member.
Bologna kept pushing because pride and professionalism demanded it, but their attacks lacked clarity now as fatigue combined with the scoreline deficit created desperation rather than coherence.
In the eighty-eighth minute Arnautovic received the ball thirty yards from goal and drove forward before attempting a long-range shot that flew high over the crossbar, and the effort drew groans from Bologna’s traveling supporters who knew the tie was slipping away.
The crowd stayed on their feet through the additional minutes while the home sections created noise that encouraged without demanding more goals, and when the referee raised his whistle after three minutes of added time the reaction was full and satisfied rather than euphoric.
Fweeeeeetttttttt! Fweeeeeetttttttt! Fweeeeeetttttttt!
FULL TIME: ATALANTA 2-0 BOLOGNA
First leg finished.
Advantage secured.
Second leg still alive but the damage was done.
Players exchanged handshakes near the center circle and Bologna’s squad walked toward their supporters with heads down but postures professional, and Atalanta’s players moved toward the Curva Nord to applaud the home fans who had pushed them through the tactical battle.
Demien walked with his teammates and clapped toward the stands while the noise continued around them, and the satisfaction came not from individual goals but from the professional job completed across ninety minutes.
Gasperini stood near the touchline speaking briefly with Thiago Motta, and the two coaches shook hands before the Bologna manager walked toward the tunnel while his expression showed frustration tempered by realism.
Inside Atalanta’s dressing room the atmosphere was calm and satisfied rather than wildly celebratory, and music played at moderate volume while players changed and showered, and conversations stayed measured because everyone understood the job was only half done.
"Good performance," Koopmeiners said to Demien while they sat on the bench. "Both goals were clean."
"Yeah, just took what came," Demien replied.
"Second leg’s gonna be different. They’ll push from the start."
"We’ll handle it."
The system activated quietly in Demien’s peripheral vision while he unlaced his boots.
「MATCH COMPLETE」
「Performance Rating: 9.2」
「Statistics:」
「Goals: 2」
「Assists: 0」
「Touches: 58」
「Pass Completion: 87%」
「Key Passes: 3」
「Duels Won: 7/10」
「Mission Objectives: COMPLETED」
「Rewards:」
「+50 MP」
「+30 TP」
「Current Balance: 450 TP | 3 SP | 229 MP」
The window faded and Demien dismissed it without reaction, and outside the dressing room corridor the stadium was emptying while supporters filed toward the exits still singing. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
The first leg was done and the second leg waited in two weeks, but tonight the job had been completed professionally and the advantage was secured through discipline rather than spectacular individual moments.
