Atalanta defeated Sassuolo 2-1 at the Gewiss Stadium in matchweek ten of the Serie A to earn all three points and move atop the league standings despite Gasperini’s team having a rough start to the evening.
In the first few minutes of the game, Atalanta controlled the action as they pressed high up the field, making it very challenging for Sassulo to create from the back.
Lookman set Teun Koopmeiners up within the first seven minutes after a sublime one-two in between the lines, so Gasperini’s team didn’t take long to get past the Nerroverdi back line. The Dutch midfielder had all of the space he needed to shoot inside the box, but Andrea Consigli made a fine save.
Despite Atalanta’s success down the wings, La Dea were unable to score as Dionisi’s back line and the shot-stopper, who played a key role in the opening 45 minutes, handled their well-delivered crosses well.
Atalanta appeared destined to score the game’s first goal, but Davide Frattesi managed to find Luca D’Andrea out wide with a perfectly weighted pass. Georgios Kyriakopoulos was set up by the young prospect with a beautiful cross that he delivered across the second post. He fired a thunderous volley past Marco Sportiello into the top corner to give his team a 1-0 lead in the 41st minute.
Despite La Dea giving up an unexpected goal while controlling the match’s momentum, Gasperini’s team remained unfazed and kept up the level of intensity they brought to the field from the beginning.
In the final seconds of the first half, Consigli expertly deflected a dangerous low-driven cross from Joakim Maehele. Mario Pasalic was able to score the equaliser from close range thanks to Brandon Soppy, who was able to grab the rebound and slither a square pass to him.
The high pressure that Gasperini’s team had been applying throughout the first half was maintained as the second half got underway. As a result, it appeared to be very successful when Koopmeiners was able to intercept a long ball that Gianmarco Ferrari had played poorly and pass the ball to Soppy along the flank.
The Frenchman found Lookman on the move with an exquisite pass between the lines of defence. In order for his team to complete the comeback in their own backyard, the attacking midfielder executed a fierce turn to weave around Consigli and let fly into the net with an amazing curler.
As things looked hopeless for the Nerroverdi, Dionisi’s team made a last-ditch effort to tie the score as the manager sent captain Domenico Berardi onto the field in place of D’Andrea to change the momentum of the game.
The 28-year-old made a statement during the game when, after being set up by Frattesi, he cut inside and fired a long-range curling shot toward goal. However, the shot went over the bar and rebounded off the goal frame before landing on the goal line.
Unfortunately, the Italian international’s return to the field was brief because he had to leave the field once more in the 79th minute to make room for Augustin Martinez due to injury.
In the end, Atlanta won thanks to a strong defensive performance in the match’s final 15 minutes, which allowed them to win the game and three important points.
Currently, Atalanta is leading the league with 24 points, one point ahead of Napoli, who still have a game remaining. Sassuolo, meanwhile, is in ninth place with 12 points after winning just six of 15 games in their previous five outings.
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