Atalanta ground out a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Monza, with goals from substitutes Lazar Samardzic and Davide Zappacosta proving crucial.
The match marked another impressive performance for La Dea, who had been in excellent form in Serie A, winning three consecutive matches while scoring 13 goals and conceding only two.
Monza entered the match unbeaten in their last three games but were without several players, including Warren Bondo, who was suspended, and injured stars like Samuele Birindelli and Andrea Petagna.
Atalanta dominated possession in the first half but struggled to break through Monza’s defense. Danilo D’Ambrosio had a couple of chances, but both he and Mateo Retegui failed to convert. Instead, it was Samuele Vignato who tested Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi with a long-range shot that forced a save.
The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute when Nicolò Zaniolo controlled a long ball and laid it off for Samardzic, who swept it home from just inside the area.
Atalanta continued to press for a second goal, with Juan Cuadrado and Sead Kolasinac both coming close. The second goal arrived when Zappacosta cut inside from the left and curled a stunning shot into the far bottom corner from the edge of the box.
Despite their efforts, Monza could not find a way back into the game as Atalanta held firm to secure the victory.
Goals: Samardzic 70 (A), Zappacosta 88 (A)
Atalanta (3-4-3): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova (57′ Cuadrado), De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri (57′ Zappacosta); De Ketelaere (67′ Zaniolo), Retegui (90′ Kossounou), Lookman (46′ Samardzic)
Monza (3-4-2-1): Turati; D’Ambrosio, Mari, Caldirola; Pereira, Bianco, Pessina (73′ Valoti), Kyriakopoulos; Mota (73′ Maldini), Vignato (73′ Caprari); Maric (46′ Djuric).
