Lazio 0-2 Atalanta: Unlucky Aquile Dealt Major Top-Six Blow | OneFootball

Lazio failed to appease the few thousand supporters who showed up at the Stadio Olimpico, as they couldn’t find a way to score against Atalanta, who returned to Bergamo with three points in the bag.

Lazio & Atalanta Starting Lineups

Maurizio Sarri insisted on deploying Daniel Maldini as the centre-forward in his 4-3-3 system, while Gustav Isaksen and Tijjani Noslin took the wings. Danilo Cataldi operated in the middle of the park, joined by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Kenneth Taylor, while Oliver Provstgaard filled in for the suspended Alessio Romagnoli at the back.

On the other hand, Raffaele Palladino opted for a half-rotated side ahead of Atalanta’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund. Nikola Krstovic led the line, backed by Lazar Samardzic and Nicola Zalewski, while David Zappacosta and Lorenzo Bernasconi took the wing-back roles in the 3-4-2-1 formation.

Both Sides Come Close in First Half

While the first half didn’t witness too many major scoring opportunities, an ill-advised exit from Ivan Provedel almost gifted La Dea the lead. The Lazio goalkeeper charged forward to meet Bernasconi, who chased a long ball. The Atalanta youngster skipped past the custodian and cut it back to Krstovic, who had the entire goal at his mercy, but his effort was cleared off the line by Oliver Provstgaard’s header.

On the other end of the pitch, Noslin picked up Maldini in the centre of the box. The Italian had too many bodies ahead of him, so he laid it back to Taylor, but the Dutchman’s effort was denied by Marco Carnersecchi and the post.

Atalanta Take the Lead From the Spot

A few minutes before the interval, the visitors were awarded a penalty kick. Zappacosta played a give-and-go with Krstovic before heading towards the byline. The wing-back tried to cut it back to the middle of the box, but it struck the arm of the sliding Cataldi, who was left furious by the referee’s decision.

Ederson (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Ederson then sent Provedel the wrong way, ensuring that the Orobici headed to the locker room with a slim advantage.

Lazio Were Keen to Find a Swift Equalizer After the Break

The Second half began with a glimmer of hope for Lazio, as Zappacosta handled the ball inside his own penalty box. But following a VAR review, it was revealed that Nuno Tavares was in an offside position. Tijjani Noslin then came close to equalizing as he flicked a header towards the far post, but Carnesecchi pulled off a sensational save, while Marusic couldn’t hit the target on the rebound.

Nicola Zalewski Opens Up Two-Goal Gap

While the Biancocelesti were wasteful in front of goal, Atalanta made the most out of their rare chances. Zalewski doubled the visitors’ lead as he peeled away from Isaksen before finding the far corner with a solid effort from the edge of the box.

Lazio Were Too Wasteful in Front of Goal

Lazio were thus given a mountain to climb, but to their credit, they kept believing until the very last second. However, they were unlucky to strike the post once again, this time through Petar Ratkov, who was then guilty of squandering an inviting chance from the middle of the box with a poor connection.

While this victory lifted Atalanta to 6th place thanks to Como’s unexpected defeat to Fiorentina earlier in the day, Lazio remain 8th in the Serie A table, nine points adrift of the European zone. Therefore, the Aquile’s most plausible route to continental football remains winning the Coppa Italia, but they will have to do better against La Dea when they meet again in the semi-finals.

Lazio 0-2 Atalanta

Goalscorers: 41′ Ederson (pen), 60` Zalewski

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila (46` Patric), Provstgaard, Tavares; Dele-Bashiru, Cataldi (67` Rovella), Taylor (79` Cancellieri); Isaksen (88` Dia), Maldini, Noslin (67` Ratkov).

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini (46` Kossounou), Djmsiti, Ahanor (24` Kolasinac); Zappacosta (83` Bellanova), De Roon, Ederson, Bernasconi; Samardzic (46` Raspadori), Zalewski (69` Sulemana); Krstovic.

Referee: Juan Luca Sacchi (Macerata section)