Atalanta came from behind to seize a 2-1 victory over Bologna at the Stadio Dall’Ara on the 2022-2023 Serie A TIM matchday 17. Koopmeiners’ and Højlund’s second-half goals locked down the three points that allow Gasperini’s men to climb to fifth place alongside Lazio and Roma on 31 points.
Emotions flooded in before kick-off, as Sinisa Mihajlovic was remembered and a minute’s silence was held in memory of Ernesto Castano and Gianluca Vialli.
A DIFFICULT START Orsolini gave the hosts an early lead with a left-foot shot only six minutes into the game, and the former Atalanta player also threatened in the 10th minute, this time with a header. However, it was Atalanta who complained in the 17th minute after Soumaoro made contact with Højlund inside the box and the referee failed to penalise him. Then Musso smothered Lykogiannis’ long-range effort and Højlund’s powerful angled left-footed drive in the 33rd minute was wide.
ATALANTA’S COMEBACK Gasperini introduced Zappacosta and Boga in the second half. And it was Atalanta’s no. 10 who, after just two minutes, set the ball up for Koopmeiners’ left-footed shot from distance that left Skorupski no chance. The comeback was completed in the 58th minute, as Boga came up with another assist, this time for Højlund, who cut inside and beat the goalkeeper with a chip shot. Atalanta were well in control of their advantage in the final thirty minutes of the game, conceding only a shot from the edge to Dominguez in the 87th minute. But the last chance came off Zappacosta in the 92nd minute, with Skorupski denying him. The match at the Dall’Ara resulted in a 2-1 victory for Gasperini’s men, who claimed their sixth away win out of nine away matches.
TRAINING TO RESUME ON WEDNESDAY After a day off, the Nerazzurri will resume training on Wednesday the 10th of January with an afternoon session behind closed doors at the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia.
BOLOGNA 1-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Orsolini 6 (B), Koopmeiners 48 (A), Højlund 58 (A).
Bologna: Skorupski, Posch (Cambiaso 82), Soumaoro, Lucumì, Lykogiannis, Ferguson (Pyyhtia 69), Medel (Schouten 69), Dominguez, Orsolini, Sansone, Soriano (Aebischer 69). Bench: Bardi, Raffaelli, Sosa, Moro, Raimondo. Coach: Thiago Motta.
Atalanta: Musso, Toloi (Djimsiti 88), Palomino (Demiral 77), Scalvini, Hateboer (Zappacosta 46), de Roon, Koopmeiners, Ruggeri, Pašalić (Boga 46), Højlund, Zapata (Éderson 56). Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Mæhle, Okoli, Lookman, Zortea, Soppy. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Marco Di Bello from Brindisi.
Assistant referees: Luigi Rossi from Rovigo and Pasquale Capaldo from Naples.
Fourth official: Daniele Perenzoni from Rovereto.
V.A.R.: Luca Banti from Livorno.
A.V.A.R.:Luca Pairetto from Nichelino.
Notes: de Roon (A), Pašalić (A), Medel (B), Lykogiannis (B) and Dominguez (B) booked.
