Serie A
Atalanta Edge Sassuolo in Season Opener at New Balance Arena
Gianluca Raspadori and Nikola Krstovic secure a 2-1 home win for Atalanta in their Serie A opener under Maurizio Sarri.
Atalanta began their Serie A campaign with a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, with goals from Gianluca Raspadori and Nikola Krstovic sealing the win.
The hosts got off to a dream start in the sixth minute when Raspadori fired home, with an assist from G. Gaetano, to put Atalanta 1-0 up early.
Sassuolo responded in the second half through Christoph Odenthal in the 55th minute, leveling the scores and setting up a tense finish.
However, Atalanta regained the lead in the 65th minute when Krstovic struck to restore the lead, ensuring the hosts left with all three points.
Despite their efforts, Sassuolo could not find an equalizer, with their only goal coming too late to change the outcome.
The result leaves Atalanta in fifth place in the table after Matchday 1, while Sassuolo sit 14th following the defeat.
Both sides deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with Maurizio Sarri and Alberto Aquilani overseeing their respective teams.
Vincenzo Crezzini was the evening’s referee as Atalanta picked up their first win of the new Serie A season.