Juventus toppled Atalanta 2-0 in a high-stakes Serie A top-four six-pointer in Bergamo to probably knock La Dea out of the Champions League promotion race. Even though the visitors didn’t impress, they took home three points to take another significant step toward securing another top-four finish.
After winning three consecutive matches in the lead-up to Sunday’s encounter, Atalanta came into proceedings as pre-match favorites, seeking the extension of a six-game unbeaten league run against Juventus (W2, D4). With Massimiliano Allegri fielding an understrength lineup in anticipation of the upcoming Europa League semi-finals, everything seemed set for a piece of history.
Going unbeaten at the Gewiss Stadium would’ve seen Atalanta hold Juventus winless in seven straight top-flight meetings for the first time in history. However, despite enjoying more of the ball and creating more meaningful opportunities in the first half, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men failed to beat Wojciech Szczesny before halftime.
The closest Atalanta came to breaking the scoring in the first half was in the 25th minute. Giorgio Scalvini outjumped his marker to connect his powerful header with Teun Koopmeiner’s corner-kick delivery, but the ball rattled off the post at Juventus’ relief. It wasn’t the only scary moment for the visitors.
Mario Pasalic found himself unmarked in the box on the stroke of halftime after receiving an inch-perfect low cross from Koopmeiners. However, he blazed his first-time effort well over the crossbar. As it so often happens in football, Juventus were ruthless in punishing their hosts’ wasted chances.
Only 11 minutes into the second half, Allegri’s side took the lead through an unlikely source. Samuel Iling Junior pounced on the rebound on the edge of the six-yard box, hammering the ball into the back of the net off the crossbar to open his Serie A account for Juventus. That was a signal for the visitors to drop back deep and defend their slender lead.
Atalanta pushed forward in numbers in search of an equalizer but couldn’t find a way to break Juventus’ defensive block. Davide Zappacosta was close to leveling the score from a distance, yet his decent attempt finished on the post. Only moments earlier, the Bianconeri could’ve doubled their lead through second-half substitute Dusan Vlahovic. Marco Sportiello denied him one-on-one, though.
But the Atalanta keeper was powerless against the Serbian striker in the 98th minute as Vlahovic hit the top corner with a devastating effort from the edge of the box following a blistering counter-attack started by Federico Chiesa.
Juventus sealed an all-important three points in Bergamo to remain firmly in control of their top-four hopes. On the other hand, Gasperini’s men now trail fourth-placed Inter by five points and are on the verge of missing out on Champions League qualification for the second season in a row.
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