On matchday 13 of the 2021-2022 Serie A TIM, Atalanta perform a comeback and claim a 5-2 victory over Spezia thanks to a brace from Pašalić and goals from Zapata, Muriel and Malinovskyi.
The first half was filled with emotions and goals, with Spezia taking the lead through Nzola on 11 minutes. However, the reaction from the Nerazzurri was immediate and Pašalić scored the equaliser in the 18th minute at the end of a splendid move that was started by Zappacosta, embellished by Zapata and finished by SuperMario. The Nerazzurri pressure continued, as Koopmeiners skimmed the post and Zapata sealed the lead from the spot. The penalty was awarded after the V.A.R. call for Sala’s handball on Mæhle’s strike and was retaken because of encroachment. Pašalić then made it 3-1 on 41 minutes after Zapata’s wonderful move.
Pašalić stroke the post in the opening minutes of the second half and after several efforts charged down and a good save from Musso to deny Nzola, the Nerazzurri finally made it 4-1 through Muriel on 83 minutes, as he turned Pašalić’s cross from the left into the near bottom corner. Malinovskyi added a fifth in the 89th minute with a left-foot shot from the edge of the box. Nzola scored in stoppages to define the 5-2 scoreline.
ATALANTA 5-2 SPEZIA
Scorers: Nzola 11 (S), Pašalić 18 (A), Zapata pen 38 (A), Pašalić 41 (A), Muriel 83 (A), Malinovskyi 89 (A), Nzola 91 (S).
Atalanta: Musso, Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti, Zappacosta (Scalvini 87), de Roon, Koopmeiners (Pessina 61), Mæhle, Pašalić (Piccoli 87), Iličić (Malinovskyi 61), Zapata (Muriel 79). Unused bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Freuler, Pezzella, Demiral, Miranchuk. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Spezia: Provedel, Amian, Erlic, Hristov, Bastoni, Kovalenko (Colley 64), Sala (Reca 64), Maggiore, Verde (Manaj 52), Nzola, Gyasi (Podgoreanu 82). Unused bench: Zoet, Zovko, Kiwior, Ferrer, Antiste, Salcedo, Nguiamba, Strelec. Coach: Thiago Motta.
Referee: Rosario Abisso from Palermo.
Assistants: Giorgio Peretti from Verona and Alessandro Cipressa from Lecce.
Fourth official: Manuel Volpi from Arezzo.
V.A.R.: Lorenzo Maggioni from Lecco.
A.V.A.R.: Damiano Di Iorio from Vco.
Notes: Koopmeiners (A), Pašalić (A), Gyasi (S), Sala (S), Hristov (S) booked.
