On matchday 5 of the 2022-2023 Serie A TIM, Atalanta win 2-0 at the U-Power in Monza which earned them a historic top spot in the league table after five games.
Monza got off to a strong start as Musso had to first smother Caprari’s close-range finish in the first minute and then palm out Sensi’s long-range shot from the top corner on 4 minutes. Di Gregorio was also tested in the other box, as he smothered Éderson’s finish at the second attempt on 38 minutes and just before half-time (45′) Malinovskyi’s corner kick was deflected off Caldirola, who almost scored an own goal.
Atalanta’s expression grew in the second half and Højlund immediately threatened on 49 minutes by hitting the post from a tight angle. Then Éderson hit the side-netting two minutes later, and Lookman forced Di Gregorio into a save with a tricky cross-shot in the 52nd minute. Højlund broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, scoring his first Serie A goal on his first start by making the most of Lookman’s perfect cross (the goal was first disallowed for offside and then validated after a V.A.R. review). Atalanta doubled their lead on 65 minutes when Éderson found Lookman at the back post and had the ball in the net after Marlon failed to block the shot. Monza tried to come back through Colpani on 78 minutes but Scalvini almost added a third in the 85th minute after a good move. It ended 2-0 at Monza and now Atalanta are at the top of the Serie A table alone on 13 points for the first time in the club’s history after five games.
MONZA 0-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Højlund 58 (A), Marlon own goal 65 (M).
Monza: Di Gregorio, Marlon, Pablo Marì, Caldirola (Izzo 87), Birindelli (Molina 77), Pessina, Rovella, Sensi (Colpani 77), Carlos Augusto, Mota (Gytkjaer 87), Caprari (Petagna 69). Bench: Cragno, Machin, Barberis, Valoti, F. Ranocchia, Antov, Marrone, Bondo, Izzo, S. Vignato, Ciurria. Coach: Giovanni Stroppa.
Atalanta: Musso, Hateboer, Toloi, Demiral, Zappacosta (Soppy 46), Koopmeiners, de Roon, Lookman (Boga 89), Éderson (Mæhle 77), Malinovskyi (Scalvini 72), Højlund (Pašalić 72). Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Okoli, Zortea, Ruggeri. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Juan Luca Sacchi from Macerata.
Assistants: Daniele Bindoni from Venice and Davide Imperiale from Genoa.
Fourth official: Andrea Colombo from Como.
V.A.R.: La Penna from Roma 1.
A.V.A.R.: Oreste Muto from Torre Annunziata.
Notes: Rovella (M), Scalvini (A) booked.
