In the first ever competitive meeting between the sides it was first half goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Chancel Mbemba that kept the playing field level going into the second leg.

Despite his 27 goals this season, Pierre-Emerik Aubameyang missed several chances on the night as Marseille gave away a big opportunity to go ahead in the semi-final tie.

Atalanta will feel pleased to leave the Stade Velodrome in southern France on even terms as Marseille’s poor away record gives the Italians hope of finishing the job in the home leg next week.

  • Story of the Match

Jean-Louis Gasset made four changes to his Marseille side that beat Nice on the weekend as the suspended Samuel Gigot and Luis Henrique replaced Chancel Mbemba and Ulisses Garcia in the backline. Geoffrey Kondogbia came back in for Pape Gueye in midfield as Ismaila Sarr returned to the frontline in place of Iliman Ndiaye.

Gian Piero Gasperini made all of seven changes to his Atalanta side that beat Empoli on Sunday as Marco Carnesecchi made way for Juan Musso in goal. Sead Kolasinac returned in place of the suspended Isak Hien along the backline as Ederson replaced Mario Pasalic in midfield. It was an entirely new front three with Aleksei Miranchuk, Ademola Lookman and El Bilal Toure all making way for Gianluca Scamacca, T Koopmeiners and Charles de Ketelaere who were rested on the weekend.

Only ten minutes in and the Italian club had the lead when Koopmeiners played in the unmarked Gianluca Scamacca who calmly finished towards the bottom left corner.

Gianluca Scamacca shoots to score Atalanta's first goal. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP)

The home side responded quickly as Henrique charged down the left flank before whipping in a trivela cross towards Sarr in the box. The Senegalese forward then headed past Juan Musso in the Atalanta goal before the ball was dramatically cleared of the line by Kolasinac.

However, the Bosnian defender’s heroic clearance came at a cost when he landed awkwardly and could no longer continue thus being replaced by Mario Pasalic.

Soon after the equaliser came for Marseille when a short corner found its way to Mbemba on the edge of the box. The Congolese defender then thundered a right footed shot that cannoned off the post before nestling in the opposite corner of the goal and leaving the Argentine keeper with no chance.

Marseille had a massive chance to take the lead just before the half when Harit broke through on the counter and played in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Despite being the all-time leading scorer in the Europa league, the Gabonese striker failed to find the bottom corner with his left footed strike across goal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shoots just wide at the end of the first half. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)

Despite Aubameyang’s late miss both teams entered the break on fairly even terms with an equal share of possession as well as a similar amount of good chances created.

Marseille’s star forward was eager to make amends for his first half miss when he latched onto a long ball from his goalkeeper and attempted a half volley with his right foot, but the shot was comfortably saved by Musso.

In search of some new energy in the forward line it was Gasperini who made the surprise substitution when Atalanta brought on Lookman for goal scorer Scammaca after an hour’s play.

The change had its impact immediately when Lookman cut inside off the left flank before twisting and turning inside the Atalanta box and unleashing a right footed shot that went just over the crossbar.

Marseille had the ball in the back of the net when Sarr tapped in a loose ball at the back post following a headed shot from Aubameyang that was saved. However, it was swiftly ruled out for offside when Henrique had made his run a bit early before delivering the cross at the beginning of the play.

The home side once more came agonisingly close to taking the lead when Azzedine Ounahi set himself to unleash a shot from the edge of the box just moments after coming onto the pitch. However, at the crucial moment he slipped, and his right footed effort struck the frame of the goal before going over.

Atalanta had one final chance to sneak out of France with a lead in the tie when a fast break in the last minute landed at the feet of Miranchuk. The Russian forward unleashed a left footed strike from outside the box that curled just wide of the near post.

Having scored the opener early in the first half, the Italian forward set up the game perfectly for his team who will fancy their chances in the second leg considering Marseille’s poor record away from home.

Atalanta’s Anfield hero has been in excellent form with 16 goals this season including 6 in the Europa League.