Atalanta Bounces Back with Crucial Victory Against Bologna in Serie A

Atalanta put an end to their dismal streak of three consecutive Serie A (SA) losses and secured their fifth straight victory against Bologna, marking their best run against them in 70 years. The match, held at Gewiss Stadium, finished 2-0, propelling Atalanta up to third place in the league standings.

Juventus’ win over Lecce on Saturday heightened the stakes for this encounter in the race for UEFA Champions League qualification, with Atalanta only a point ahead of Bologna at kick-off.

It didn’t take long for La Dea to demonstrate their dominance, as they found the back of the net within the first three minutes.

Mateo Retegui has been on fire this season, and he solidified his position at the top of the SA scoring leaderboard with his 23rd goal—an excellent poacher’s finish after connecting with Raoul Bellanova’s low cross.

Bologna tried to impose themselves on the hosts, but midway through the first half, Atalanta doubled their lead.

After showcasing his goal-scoring abilities, Retegui displayed his playmaking skills by supplying a perfectly weighted ball into the box, allowing Mario Pašalić to slot it home past Bologna’s goalkeeper, Federico Ravaglia.

Bologna responded with intent, hitting the post when Marco Carnesecchi deflected Dan Ndoye’s shot; however, Atalanta held firm as they went into halftime with their lead intact.

The only downside for the hosts was a concerning injury to Sead Kolašinac, who had to be stretchered off, with Rafael Tolói taking his place.

Upon resuming play, Bologna needed to find a way back into the match. Although Benjamín Domínguez’s powerful strike and Dan Ndoye’s more straightforward effort both required saves from Carnesecchi, Bologna’s attempts to apply pressure on Atalanta’s defence were largely ineffective.

Ultimately, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side cruised to a crucial three points—strengthening their prospects of securing a spot in Europe’s premier club competition once again, while also ending their wait for a home Serie A win in 2025.

Meanwhile, Bologna find themselves two points shy of the coveted top-four positions and could slip to sixth should Lazio triumph over Roma in the Derby della Capitale later on Sunday.

Catch a summary of the match here