DOUBLES FROM BRYAN Cristante and substitute Andreas Cornelius launched Atalanta into the knockout stages with a 5-1 win as Everton turned in another appalling Europa League performance.
Former AC Milan youngster Cristante slotted in an early opener and made the points safe when he headed home after the hour
Captain Alejandro Gomez also missed a penalty for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, who are level on 11 points with Lyon. Group E’s dominant teams will play to settle top spot in Bergamo on December 7.
Everton’s involvement in the competition seemingly cannot end soon enough, with Sandro Ramirez’s fine first goal for the club in the 71st minute coming as scant consolation for a sparse Goodison Park crowd.
1-5 - This was the heaviest home defeat suffered by an English side in the Europa League/UEFA Cup since Nottingham Forest in March 1996 (1-5 v Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup). Ruins. pic.twitter.com/9ZeR5vHb78
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 23, 2017
Along with beleaguered caretaker boss David Unsworth they endured a late salvo from their Serie A opponents that began in the 86th minute when Robin Gosens brilliantly clattered in from long-range via the post.
One-time Cardiff City misfit Cornelius then twice capitalised on defending pitched some way south of shambolic, leaving Unsworth’s long-term job prospects in tatters.
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