Atalanta turned a difficult stretch into a needed home victory, beating Venezia 3-1 in Bergamo after three consecutive defeats. Maurizio Sarri’s side did their decisive work inside the opening half-hour, with Nikola Krstovic scoring twice after Franck Kessié had opened the scoring. Venezia found moments of encouragement, especially after the interval, but remain without a point after six Serie A rounds.
The coach and the club
The result gives Sarri and Atalanta a welcome lift before a demanding few days. They host Pafos in the Conference League on Thursday, then travel to Milan for Sunday’s league fixture.
For Giovanni Stroppa, the evening added weight to an already difficult start. Venezia had recently received public backing from the club, yet the talk around the coach’s position is unlikely to disappear while the side remain bottom. They are the only team without points across Europe’s leading ten leagues alongside Borussia Monchengladbach, although the Bundesliga has played one fewer round than Serie A.
Venezia will return to the Lagoon next Saturday seeking their first points of the campaign against Napoli.
A first half that settled the contest
Atalanta selected Davide Zappacosta at right-back, while Eljif Elmas was chosen in midfield ahead of Lazar Samardzic and Nicola Zalewski. Krstovic led the line, with Giacomo Raspadori, back after an injury sustained on international duty, beginning among the substitutes.
Venezia were captained by Juan Jesus in defence. Correia started on the left ahead of Sagrado, and Akor Adams partnered Yeboah in attack.
The visitors created the first sight of goal, but Toma Basic’s low effort lacked the force to trouble Marco Carnesecchi. Atalanta then struck twice in three minutes.
- In the fourth minute, Krstovic released Kessié, who lifted a composed finish over Filip Stankovic.
- Krstovic made it 2-0 in the seventh minute, heading in Elmas’ corner.
- Correia was forced off with a muscular problem a minute later, with Sagrado taking his place.
- Atalanta scored their third on 31 minutes. Raoul Bellanova won possession, Rowe’s shot was saved by Stankovic, and Krstovic reacted in the crowded area to force home his second.
- Venezia responded on 37 minutes as Hainaut, left unmarked, headed in Sagrado’s inviting cross.
That goal gave Stroppa’s players something to work with at 3-1, but the opening phase had exposed the passivity and concentration lapses that had cost them dearly.
Venezia show more after the break
The second half belonged more evenly to the contest. Venezia played with greater conviction and came close to reducing the deficit further. Adams and Hainaut were unable to convert headers, before Adams set up Yeboah, whose powerful strike hit the junction of post and crossbar with Carnesecchi beaten.
Adams thought he had scored in the 61st minute after Yeboah’s vertical pass, only for referee Tremolada to rule it out for offside. VAR official Francesco Meraviglia confirmed the decision.
Krstovic narrowly missed a hat-trick with another header, while Carnesecchi made an important stop when Yeboah broke through. At the other end, Stankovic dealt well with attempts from Elmas and Kristensen.
Atalanta finished with ten men after Elmas’ late challenge on Helgason. Tremolada initially showed a yellow card, then reviewed the incident at the monitor and upgraded the punishment to a dismissal in the 88th minute.
Venezia had one final opening, but substitute Schingtienne headed wide from a promising position. Atalanta had already built enough of a margin to see out a 3-1 result, restoring some calm around their season while leaving Venezia’s search for a first point unresolved.
