With a 2-0 victory over Atalanta on Sunday, Lazio broke their opponents’ unbeaten streak in Italy’s top division and climbed into the top four.
Inflicting La Dea’s first loss of the year thanks to well-executed team goals from Mattia Zaccagni and Felipe Anderson, Lazio has overtaken Atalanta on 24 points despite being without Ciro Immobile.
Felipe Anderson took over as the False 9 for the Biancocelesti after injured hitman Immobile was forced to miss out due to injury, while Rafael Toloi, Davide Zappacosta, and suspended Jose Luis Palomino were still absent for La Dea. After being absent for several weeks, Duvan Zapata and Juan Musso were available on the bench.
Prior to their match against Roma in Sunday’s late game, Atalanta had the opportunity to pull a point ahead of league leaders Napoli, but Lazio put on a flawless away performance without injured Italian goalscorer Ciro Immobile.
Lazio got off to a fast start and quickly took the lead thanks to a really well-executed team move. Manuel Lazzari fed Pedro down the right, who then rolled across the field into plenty of space for Mattia Zaccagni to tap in from seven yards.
And eight minutes after the half, Felipe Anderson, who had taken over for Immobile in a false nine forward position, ensured that Lazio would pass Atalanta into third place by drilling in the second goal for the visitors.
Only twice this season did Atalanta find themselves in a deficit; the other time, against Sassuolo, it only lasted four minutes.
Hans Hateboer’s diving header was over at the back post, Luis Muriel was unable to control the Ademola Lookman assist, and Matias Vecino’s attempt from a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic assist was also off target.
Teun Koopmeiners failed to properly connect with Muriel’s cross, Marco Sportiello deflected a Zaccagni effort around the post, and Hateboer turned another header over the crossbar.
With his second offence that could result in a booking, Muriel ended the misery in the last minute. Atalanta won’t have their star forward Luis Muriel against Empoli the following weekend because the Colombian was dismissed late for two cautionable offences.
After winning five of their last six league games, Maurizio Sarri’s team is level on points with Atalanta, who are currently in fourth place, and is two points behind Napoli.
If Roma defeats Napoli in their matchup at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, they will pass both teams and become the first team in Europe to do so this year.
In contrast to the exciting teams Gian Piero Gasperini has built in Bergamo in recent years, Atalanta barely created a chance as they left Napoli as the only unbeaten team in Serie A.
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