SS Lazio on Sunday avenged their Coppa Italia quarter-final defeat against Atalanta with a 3-1 win against them at Bergamo.
This was also coincidentally Atalanta’s first Serie A defeat in 2021.
Both sides continued their flurry of goals with another four, having recorded 21 goals in their last four competitive meetings.
It could be recalled that Atalanta progressed to the next round of the Coppa Italia after winning 3-2 despite finishing the game with ten men and lost two penalties.
With both being attacking sides known for goalscoring, it took just three minutes for a goal to be recorded. The visitors got into the lead from an unexpected source. Adam Marusic from 25 metres curled in a stunner with his right foot, which bent wickedly at the end to go around Pierluigi Gollini’s fingertips.
In their search for the equaliser, Atalanta recorded more possession, but that doesn’t stop Lazio from taking advantage of any slippery.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s free header from Immobile’s floated pass was stopped Gollini’s fingertip which pushed the ball to the upright.
Despite pressing, Lazio had all the chances. Gollini later made another fingertip save from Luis Alberto’s lob despite the sun again making it tricky for him.
Atalanta resumed the second half with the introduction of Ruslan Malinovskyi and Joakim Maehle moved to the left to form a four-man defence.
Lazio then extended their lead with a classic counter. The moved started from Reina’s long ball flicked on by Immobile in midfield to Joaquin Correa. The winger sprinted away and dribbled round Gollini to score from the tightest of angles.
Atalanta layer reduced the deficit through Mario Pasalic. The Colombia striker, Luis Muriel twisted through the entire Lazio defence before unleashing a finish that bounced off the post and into the path of the Croatian.
The Aquile within some minute restored their two-goal lead. Andreas Pereira broke the offside and then released the pass for unmarked Vedat Muriqi to tap into the empty net.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
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