Atalanta has dislodged Inter Milan from the third position of the Serie A table after a 2-0 win over struggling Sampdoria on the Serie A table.
The win at Gewiss Stadium was Atalanta’s ninth consecutive Serie A victory, which moved them within two points of second-placed Lazio, with late goals from Rafael Toloi and Luis Muriel finally breaking Sampdoria down within the last 15 minutes.
Atalanta Vs Sampdoria highlight
The return of Josip Ilicic to the starting XI for the first time since spraining his ankle was a plus to the hosts, but Jose Luis Palomino out of action due to suspension.
Coming back from back-to-back wins that took them out of the relegation zone, Sampdoria was without Lorenzo Tonelli, Ronaldo Vieira, and Alex Ferrari were all out of action due to injuries. While Morten Thorsby returned from suspension, the team’s captain, Fabio Quagliarella is yet to be fit after a calf strain.
The first chance of the encounter came the visitors’ way through a counter, with Nicola Murru flashing his angled drive across the face of goal. Pierluigi Gollini fingertip save from Manolo Gabbia’s missile stopped Sampdoria from going ahead.
The host later got their chances as well through Toloi and Duvan Zapata, but the duo didn’t get enough power on their finishes.
Zapata again failed to provide the finish his impressive run deserved, when he controlled a Papu Gomez ball over the top. He won the head contest with a defender and then prodded it at on-rushing Emil Audero.
As the first half ended in a draw, the chance came to the path of Toloi in the second interval, but he blasted it over. From another Gomez cross, Hans Hateboer’s flying volley flashed across the face of goal.
Bartosz Bereszynski was lucky to remain in the pitch after getting just a yellow card for a two-footed lunge on Papu Gomez. This angered Claudio Ranieri, who was sent off for dissent from the touchline.
Atalanta finally got the first goal from a corner after increasingly laying siege on Audero’s goal. Ruslan Malinovskyi’s corner was whipped to the back post for the head of Toloi for the opener.
Supersub Muriel got his 10th goal of the Serie A season after a corner was only cleared to the edge of the box for him to rifle in with real power.
Juventus next for La Dea
The win is a confidence booster for La Dea with there next meeting being with Juventus that lost 4-2 to AC Milan after going 2-0 up.
Although Atalanta failed to score in only two Serie A games this season, which was against and Sampdoria and Cagliari in October, they look to have goals in their tanks and may likely add to Juventus mystery.
With the return of Llicic, Atalanta may get another win or a draw that could leave the fight for the title open.
