Atalanta Start Season In Control as Torino Are Brushed Aside

Atalanta belatedly began their Serie A campaign after a late end to the 2019-20 season that saw them reach the Champions League Quarter-Finals.

La Dea were in control of their first fixture at Torino and showed no signs of respite against their rivals, pulling off a 4-2 win. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men started the campaign with the same mentality that they finished the last, outscoring their opponents but also showing signs of weakness at the back.

Alejandro Gomez and Luis Muriel were the stars of the day, scoring a goal apiece while laying down assists for their teammates. Gomez finished with two assists while Muriel had one. For the hosts, Andrea Belotti’s brace was the talking point.

The Torino captain was a force to reckon with in the first half but was left asking for service in the second period. Nevertheless, his goals showed he is on-course for another prolific season at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

Atalanta picked up from where they left last season with a convincing 4-2 win at Torino

The goddess was with Atalanta in the opening exchanges. Bosko Sutalo’s defensive blunder left Simone Zaza free to try his luck. However, the Atalanta youth academy graduate could only hit the crossbar against his alma mater.

The visitors piled on the pressure at the other end of the pitch but their efforts were denied. The Toro were fated to trouble the scorers and they duly did. Tomas Rincón sliced open Atalanta defense to release Belotti, who calmly slotted in the bottom left corner with a first touch shot.

There was a quick response from the Bergamaschi outfit. Gomez did not allow a let-up and matched the heroics of the Torino captain. He collected the ball from Duvan Zapata and unleashed a scorching shot from outside the box and into the bottom right corner as Salvatore Sirigu scrambled for air. The ball made its way into the back of the net to return parity into the fixture.

Atalanta created the better chances with Duvan Zapata and Rubin Gosens coming close. Zapata’s header went over the bar while Gosen’s first-time shot was never in danger of troubling the scorers.

Gasperini’s men were rewarded for their relentless approach in the 21st minute. Gomez combined with Muriel for Atalanta’s second. The Argentine was the architect with a lofted long-pass forward. Muriel got on the end of it expertly and shot into the bottom left corner to make it 1-2.

La Dea was in control of the game and hounded the Torino area in search of another goal. With three minutes remaining, Gomez sent in a cross from the left flank which was met by Hans Hateboer volley for Atalanta’s third goal.

Alejandro Gomez scored the Atalanta equalizer with a stunning shot from outside the box and served two assists today against Torino. El Papu continues to be an indispensable presence for La Dea!

The second-half was looking like a formality but the Granata struck back in emphatic fashion. Mergim Vojvoda sent a probing cross into the area which Belotti expertly headed home with inhuman reflexes. It was the fifth goal of the game and plenty still to offer after the break.

While it was Torino who had the better chances in the opening exchanges of the first half, the script was reversed in the second offering. Muriel and Hateboer should have added to their tally but failed to do so.

However, the Colombian turned provider for the fourth. His pass from the right flank to the rushing Marten de Roon made its way past Sirigu for Atalanta’s fourth. Within 10 minutes of the restart, La Dea again had a comfortable two-goal lead.

Marco Giampaolo’s men tried to force themselves in the game but failed to produce anything of substance, while the visitors continued to let chances go begging. Papu Gomez had the chance to make it five, but his shot from inside the six-yard box was weak and easily collected by the Torino vice-captain. Ruslan Malinovsky and Robin Gosens got in dangerous areas but there was no one to collect their passes into the box.

Despite their prolificacy in the second period where they should have added to their tally, Atalanta will be pleased with their effort: A well-deserved victory over Torino on the road gave a warning shot to their top-four rivals.

For Marco Giampaolo’s men, it was an improvement on their dour 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina last week. The Bulls gave a good account of themselves but were the second-best side all day. Like Atalanta, they need to shore up their defense if they are to improve on their 16th place finish.

 

MATCH REPORT

September 26, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 2
TORINO-ATALANTA 2-4

SCORERS: 11′ Belotti (T), 13′ Gomez (A), 21′ Muriel (A), 42′ Hateboer (A), 43′ Belotti (T), 54′ De Roon (A)

TORINO (4-3-1-2): Sirigu; Vojvoda, N’Koulou, Bremer, Murru; Meite, Rincon (79′ Segre), Linetty (63′ Lukic); Berenguer (63′ Verdi); Zaza (75′ Millico), Belotti (Milinkovic-Savi, Rosati, Ansaldi, Buongiorno, Edera, Iago Falque, Izzo, Lyanco) Coach:Giampaolo
ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): Sportiello; Toloi, Caldara (46′ Palomino), Sutalo; Hateboer, De Roon, Freuler, Gosens (84′ Mojica); Gomez (84′ Pasalic); Muriel (63’Malinovskyi), Zapata (84′ Lammers) (Carnesecchi, Da Riva, Romero, Rossi, Traore) Coach: Gasperini

REFEREE: Mr. Irrati from Pistoia
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Zaza (T), Caldara, Freuler (A); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 5′