The ninth consecutive win comes in the 2019-2020 Serie A TIM Matchday 31, the eleventh in all competitions (the club’s record has been further improved): at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo Sampdoria were defeated 2-0 with two goals in the second half. A win that moves Gasperini’s team to 66 points, within two points of second-placed Lazio.
It was a highly tactical and balanced game against Sampdoria, who were very compact and defended well in all zones. After some attempts from Toloi and Linetty, Gabbiadini tested Gollini on 30 with a powerful finish from outside the box, who was deflected for a corner by the Nerazzurri goalkeeper. The best chance of the first half came on 38 when Zapata controlled a Gomez ball and shot, but Audero denied him by rushing off his line. Before half-time, a chance each for both right wing-backs, but neither Depaoli first, nor Hateboer then, were lucky.
In the second half, Hateboer was dangerous again, but it’s Toloi who broke the deadlock on 75 by pulling off the perfect header on Malinovskyi’s corner. And Muriel, who had just come on, doubled Atalanta lead on 40, with a wonderful finish from the edge of the box to go past Audero.
ATALANTA-SAMPDORIA 2-0
Goals: Toloi 75, Muriel 85
Atalanta: Gollini, Toloi, Caldara, Djimsiti (de Roon 53), Hateboer, Freuler, Pašalić (Muriel 70), Gosens (Castagne 86), Gomez, Iličić (Malinovskyi 70), Zapata (Šutalo 86). Bench: Rossi, Sportiello, Tameze, Czyborra, Guth, Bellanova, E. Colley. Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Sampdoria: Audero, Bereszynski, Yoshida, O. Colley, Murru, Depaoli (D’Amico 91), Linetty, Thorsby, Ekdal (La Gumina 83), Jankto (Augello 82), Gabbiadini (Ramirez 82). Bench: Seculin, Chabot, Bonazzoli, Askildsen, Maroni, Leris, Quagliarella, Bertolacci. Coach: Claudio Ranieri.
Referee: Antonio Giua from Olbia.
Assistants: Daniele Bindoni from Venezia and Tarcisio Villa from Rimini.
Fourth official: Lorenzo Maggioni from Lecco.
V.A.R.: Luigi Nasca from Bari.
A.V.A.R.: Mauro Galetto from Rovigo.
Notes: Ranieri (S) sent off for dissent on 65, Gasperini (A), Djimsiti (A), Thorsby (S), Jankto (S), Bereszynski (S) booked.
