Atalanta’s 2023/24 Serie A TIM campaign begins with a victory as late goals from De Ketelaere and Zortea secure a 2-0 victory over Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, keeping the Nerazzurri’s season-opening winning streak going.
A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in memory of Carlo Mazzone. The hosts had the first chance within three minutes, but Musso was well alert on Laurienté’s effort. Atalanta’s instant reply on 4 minutes forced an Erlic goal-line clearance on Koopmeiners’ shot, which was going in; ten minutes later, Erlic took over from Consigli and intercepted Lookman’s effort from Zappacosta’s pass. In the 32nd minute, Zapata carved out a bit of a shooting space on the right and fired a rocket from a tight angle, which was deflected for a corner by Consigli. Before half-time, de Roon – on his 300th Atalanta appearance – also had a go with a shot from the edge of the box that was saved by Consigli. On 45 minutes there was time for a third Sassuolo goal-line clearance, with Lopez blocking Zapata’s deflected header, and minutes later, Musso did well to parry Henrique’s shot.
The second half saw Gasperini opt for changes, subbing on Éderson and giving De Ketelaere his first Atalanta appearance: the Belgian international came off the bench and almost opened the scoring on 49 minutes when he nodded just over from Ruggeri’s cross. After a few seconds, Laurienté hit the crossbar with a long-range effort. Scamacca, also on his Atalanta debut, laid it off unmarked for De Ketelaere, whose first-time strike smacked against the crossbar in the 63rd minute. Éderson also had a go from the edge of the box, but the attempt finished just over the bar.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 83rd minute, with a De Ketelaere header from Ruggeri’s great cross from the left: Consigli tried his best to keep the ball out of the net but goal-line technology showed it had crossed over before the goalkeeper’s desperate save. And it was not over, as the Nerazzurri doubled their lead on 93 minutes through Zortea, who hit a screamer into the far bottom corner to seal the 2-0 win for Atalanta.
The Nerazzurri will now enjoy a day off and will return to the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia on Tuesday afternoon for a behind-closed-doors training session, which will kick off preparations for the Frosinone game.
SASSUOLO 0-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: De Ketelaere 84 (A), Zortea 93 (A).
Sassuolo: Consigli, Toljan, Erlic, Viti (Miranda 78), Vina (Missori 46), Lopez, Henrique, Defrel (Volpato 78), Bajrami (Thorstvedt 62), Laurienté, Pinamonti (Mulattieri 85).
Unused subs: Pegolo, Cragno, Ceide, Boloca, Paz, Lipani.
Coach: Alessio Dionisi.
Atalanta: Musso, Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolašinac, Zappacosta (Zortea 73), de Roon, Koopmeiners (Adopo 87), Ruggeri, Pašalić (Éderson 46), Zapata (De Ketelaere 46), Lookman (Scamacca 62).
Unused subs: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Toloi, Okoli, Muriel, Bakker.
Coach: Tullio Gritti (Gian Piero Gasperini suspended).
Referee: Matteo Marchetti from Ostia Lido (assistant referees: Daniele Bindoni from Venice and Alberto Tegoni from Milan; fourth official: Giacomo Camplone from Pescara; V.A.R.: Eugenio Abbattista from Molfetta; A.V.A.R.: Luigi Nasca from Bari).
