On matchday 24 of the 2020-2021 Serie A TIM campaign at the Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Atalanta win 2-0 over Sampdoria and reach Juventus on 46 points.
The tempo was high and there was great intensity from the first minutes. Muriel immediately forced a save by Audero with a shot from the edge of the box after six minutes, then Jankto severely tested Sportiello on 9. The Nerazzurri goalkeeper then also deflected Damsgaard’s free-kick two minutes later. Palomino’s goal-line clearance on Jankto’s right-foot finish was decisive on 21. In the 30th minute, Malinovskyi’s left-foot low drive forced a save by Audero. The opener arrived on 41 with Muriel who set up Malinovskyi to cut inside and hit an absolute left-foot rocket into the far top corner.
Sampdoria had a strong start in the second half and almost scored the equaliser on 49 with another Damsgaard free-kick which skimmed the post. Then the Nerazzurri hit back again. Mæhle’s first Italian goal was disallowed on 50 as Gosens was offside in the build-up, then the German’s effort was saved by Audero on 53. Iličić came off the bench and tested Audero with a shot from distance on 65 and three minutes later, Toloi’s finish was deflected by Yoshida. Gosens then doubled the Nerazzurri lead on 70 as he came sliding in at the back post after finding Mæhle’s cross. The final minutes were in control of the Nerazzurri and Pessina almost made it 3-0 with a left-foot angled drive which was pushed just around the far post by Audero.
SAMPDORIA 0-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: Malinovskyi 41 (A), Gosens 70 (A).
Sampdoria: Audero, Bereszynski, Ferrari, Yoshida, Augello, Damsgaard (Candreva 68), Ekdal, Thorsby, Jankto (Ramirez 68), Verre (Keita 61), La Gumina (Quagliarella 61). Bench: Ravaglia, Letica, Colley, Askildsen, Regini, Tonelli, Gabbiadini, Leris. Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Atalanta: Sportiello, Toloi, Romero, Palomino, Mæhle, de Roon, Freuler, Gosens, Malinovskyi (Miranchuk 83), Pašalić (Pessina 59), Muriel (Iličić 59). A disposizione: Rossi, Gollini, Caldara, Kovalenko, Ruggeri, Ghislandi. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Tullio Gritti on the bench).
Referee: Livio Marinelli from Tivoli.
Assistants: Filippo Valeriani from Ravenna and Edoardo Raspollini from Livorno.
Fourth official: Valerio Marini from Roma 1.
V.A.R.: Daniele Doveri from Roma 1.
A.V.A.R.: Alessandro Lo Cicero from Brescia.
Notes: Ekdal (S), Freuler (A), Toloi (A), de Roon (A) booked.
