Today’s friendly match against Como – a team competing in the Serie D – at the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia has ended 10-1. It has been a useful test to put more fuel in the legs of those who featured fewer minutes in Thursday’s test against AZ Alkmaar. Pašalić, fresh from his journey with the Croatia national team at the World Cup, was also on the pitch.

Before the start, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of Pelé. Then came the match, with two 45-minute halves and ten goals scored by Atalanta, with the first half ending 4-0. In the final tally, four goals were scored by Zapata, two by Muriel (the first one was a penalty), and one goal each for Malinovskyi, Pašalić, Zappacosta and Scalvini. The only goal scored by the visitors is courtesy of Abbà, who made it 5-1 in the 66th minute.

Preparations will continue tomorrow, Saturday 31 December, with the last training session as of 2022, to be held in the morning and behind closed doors at the Centro Bortolotti in Zingonia.

ATALANTA 10-1 CREMA

Scorers: Malinovskyi 11 (A), Zapata 22, 49, 77, 89 (A), Pašalić 31 (A), Zappacosta 45 (A), Zapata 49 (A), Abbà 66 (C), Muriel pen 73, 86 (A), Scalvini 83 (A).

Atalanta: Rossi, Zortea, Okoli, Scalvini, Soppy, Mæhle (Vorlicky 77), Pašalić, Zappacosta (Palestra 72), Malinovskyi, Zapata, Muriel. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Crema: Peschieri (Aiolfi 46), Nesci (Spaneshi 46), Groppelli (Grassi 46), Ricozzi (Georgiev 72), Bajic (Brero 25), Cerri, Lovaglio (Meleqi 61), Bignami, Recino (Gallo 46), De Milato (Abbà 46), Tosi (Madiotto 46). Coach: Stefano Bellinzaghi.

Referee: Paride Tremolada from Monza (refereeing assistants Alessandro Antonio Boggiani from Monza and Mattia Morotti from Bergamo).