Atalanta traveled to Rome for their Serie A catch-up meeting with Lazio. Both sides impressed in their Round Two encounters, earning impressive away wins. The Biancocelesti played hosts this time to stop Gian Piero Gasperini’s plans for Italian top-flight football.
It was La Dea who continued their efficient run in front of the goal, giving a good account of their goal-scoring abilities on the road. They thrashed Simone Inzaghi’s men 1-4 to take home the three points on offer.
Ten minutes into the game, Alejandro Gomez floated a pass to Hans Hateboer, who headed it to Duvan Zapata. The Colombian could not get his head to the ball, which fell in the path of the rushing Robin Gosens for him to easily slot it home. Thomas Strakosha had no chance in Lazio’s goal.
Gosens turned provider for Atalanta’s second. La Dea broke away after a Lazio throw-in, with the German running down the right flank. His cross was met by Hans Hateboer to double the Nerazzurri‘s lead. The Dutch defender was free on the left flank after Zapata had dragged Lazio’s defenders out of shape. The visitors were cruising with just half an hour of play underway.
The Biancocelesti upped the tempo after going down two goals. Lazio should have gotten one back but failed to make anything from the opportunity. Ciro Immobile’s shot came off the post with Felipe Caicedo free to try his luck on goal. The Ecuadorian could only manage a tame shot that was comfortably cleared for a corner.
Zapata should have made it 3-0, but it was his captain who struck the back of the net with five minutes remaining in the first half. The Colombian’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper, but it only fell to Ruslan Malinovsky. Patric dealt with the Ukrainian’s resulting cross, but the clearance fell to Gomez, who added to Lazio’s woes.
Simone Inzaghi must have given his side a dressing down in the 15-minute break. The hosts were broken down with ease and could not contain the threat of Zapata time and time again. However, it was more of the same with Atalanta looking to add to their tally after the restart.
Persistence did pay off for Lazio but Atalanta pegged them back right after it. Felipe Caicedo got the Biancocelesti on the board just before the hour-mark. The former Manchester City player got on the end of a Sergej Milinkovic-Savic cross to reduce Atalanta’s lead.
However, it would only prove to be a consolatory attempt with Gomez returning their three-goal lead within minutes. Zapata was in the mix again but it was the delivery from Ruslan Malinovsky that opened Lazio defense and found El Papu. The Argentine continued his proficient run, scoring his second of the night and third of the campaign.
With their three-goal advantage restored, La Dea relaxed. Inzaghi mixed up his line-up and soon exhausted all his substitution options. With the game in control at the Stadio Olimpico, Gasperini would bring off Gomez and Zapata to give Luis Muriel and Sam Lammers time on the pitch.
Atalanta would hold on to the win for only their third away success in Rome in this millennium. La Dea returned to Bergamo with a great notch on their belts. They will look favorably at the result as they welcome Cagliari at the Gewiss Stadium this weekend.
Meanwhile, Lazio have a lot to contend with. They need to improve at the back if they are to shut out Antonio Conte’s men over the weekend. Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku have started the season brightly and it will be tough to tackle them as Inter make the trip to the eternal city for their next Serie A outing.
MATCH REPORT
September 30, 2020 – Serie A 2020-2021 Round 1
LAZIO-ATALANTA 1-4
SCORERS: 10′ Gosens (A), 32′ Hateboer (A), 41′ Gomez (A), 57′ Caicedo (L), 61′ Gomez (A)
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LAZIO (3-5-2): Strakosha; Patric, Acerbi, Radu (58′ Bastos); Lazzari (70′ A. Anderson), Milinkovic-Savic (70′ Akpa Akpro), Lucas Leiva (49′ Cataldi), Luis Alberto (70′ Escalante), Marusic; Caicedo, Immobile (Reina, Armini, Lukaku, Parolo, Kiyine, Adekanye, Correa) Coach: S. Inzaghi |
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ATALANTA (3-4-1-2): Sportiello; Toloi, Palomino, Djimsiti (46′ Romero); Hateboer, Pasalic (56′ De Roon), Freuler, Gosens (90′ Mojica); Malinkovskyi; Gomez (81′ Muriel), Zapata (82′ Lammers) (Carnesecchi, Rossi, Sutalo, Caldara, Ruggeri, Traoré) Coach: Gasperini |
REFEREE: Mr. Maresca from Napoli
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, Marusic, Caicedo (L), Djimsiti, Freuler, Gosens, Hateboer (A); Extra Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 3′