Nerazzurri at 9 points, Cagliari still without victories
Atalanta defeats Cagliari 2-0 today 24 September 2023 in a match valid for the fifth day of Serie A, played at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. Goals from Lookman in the 33rd minute and Pasalic in the 76th minute decided the match. In the standings the Orobic team rise to 6th place with 9 points, while the Sardinians, still without any victories in the championship, are second to last with only two points.
The match
There was an immediate risk for the Dea at the start with Luvumbo’s pressure on a back pass from Kolasinac to Musso, a situation which was then unraveled by the Argentine goalkeeper. The first opportunity is for the hosts with a nice foray into the penalty area by De Ketelaere but his shot at the near post is blocked by Radunovic. The rossoblù response came a few moments later with a cross from Luvumbo for Shomurodov’s diving header which went wide. In the 22nd minute Lookman runs down the left lane and puts a ball in the center of the area that De Ketelaere can only push towards goal but the game is stopped due to an evident irregular starting position of the Nerazzurri number 11.
In the 25th minute extraordinary action by Lookman who, cued by Koopmeiners, converges towards the center from the left, leaps past two opponents and shoots with power, only finding the opposition of the crossbar to deny him the joy of scoring. At half an hour it’s Lookman again who, again from the left tile, tries a right-footed shot to the near post which is blocked by Radunovic. The score broke the deadlock a few moments later with a beautiful run by De Ketelaere in the right lane. The former AC Milan player enters the area and serves Lookman to the center who makes the easiest tap in. Atalanta flies on the wings of enthusiasm and a few moments later comes close to doubling the lead with Ruggeri but his shot is again very well blocked by Radunovic.
In the second half Ranieri sent Zappa onto the field for Deiola, effectively switching to a 4-4-2 and in the fifth minute Luvumbo challenged Musso from close range but the Cagliari striker had started from an irregular position and the action faded. In the eleventh minute Luvumbo enters the area and looks for the bottom and falls upon contact with De Roon, for the match director there is nothing with the replay confirming everything. The Goddess slows down and the rossoblù are once again dangerous with Shomurodov but his header misses the target. In the 28th minute a tower from Luvumbo frees Dossena who remained on the edge of the area following a corner kick. The defender of Ranieri’s team splits in search of the shot but the ball is largely lost on the bottom.
At the half hour mark, however, there was a flash that led the Bergamo team to double their lead: dialogue between Pasalic and Muriel and the Colombian’s throw to the Croatian who kicks diagonally with the ball which kisses the post and enters the net. With nine to go, Cagliari comes close to scoring a goal that would have reopened the match: a cross from the left by Luvumbo to Oristanio who turns from inside the area and shoots with power but the ball hits the crossbar of Musso’s goal.
Source-www.adnkronos.com